ST. CLAIRSVILLE — On the eve of expanding COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to Ohioans age 40 and older, Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday looked toward the future and the opportunity to inoculate all adults.

“In 11 days from now, March 29, we will open up eligibility in Ohio to all Ohioans … anyone 16 years of age and older,” DeWine said.

He reminded the public, however, that the Pfizer BioNTech version of the vaccine is the only one approved by the Food and Drug Administration for 16- and 17-year-olds.

DeWine credited increased vaccine shipments along with a more streamlined online registration process at gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov for allowing him to offer doses to more people, including those with conditions such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, heart disease and obesity beginning today.

“We are now averaging about 400,000 first doses every single week,” he said during his talk on The Ohio Channel, adding he expects shipments to increase to 500,000 the week of March 29. This comes as more infectious mutations of the coronavirus are being discovered.

“We also are frankly in a race. We don’t know exactly what the enemy is doing, but we do know from talking to the scientists … they do believe the variant is spreading in Ohio,” DeWine said, adding the vaccine appears to be effective against the mutations. “It is believed to be a lot more contagious.”

The statewide case rate is now 143.8 per 100,000 Ohioans, compared to 155 per 100,000 last week and 180 per 100,00 the week before. DeWine has said all health restrictions will be lifted when average cases are 50 per 100,000 statewide.

“We continue seeing the numbers trending down. That is just great, great news for all Ohioans,” he said. “It wasn’t that long ago that we were up in the 700s.”

DeWine said Ohio’s nursing homes reported 70 new cases this week compared to 157 cases reported the previous week. He said more than 2,000 new cases were reported weekly in nursing homes during the peak of the pandemic in December. DeWine credited the vaccination effort with driving down numbers. Work continues to offer additional doses to nursing home residents and staff statewide.

Recognizing the importance of clean and circulated air in facilities with large numbers of people, the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is expanding eligibility of the COVID-19 Indoor Air Quality Assistance Program.

“This is money to go to facilities to help them upgrade,” DeWine said, adding more information can be found at bwc.ohio.gov.

Outreach will continue to younger Ohioans, as well as rural Ohioans and other demographic groups that may be hesitating to register for the shots. DeWine added that while younger people are less likely to suffer fatal effects from the virus, they are still able to spread the infection.

DeWine declined to speculate about upcoming guidelines related to holding fairs, proms, graduations and other events, since circumstances may change as time passes.

“We give them guidance based on the science that we’re seeing now,” he said. “Today the advice is to wear a mask.”

DeWine also addressed Ohio Senate Bill 22, passed by the Ohio Senate in February and being considered by the House in committee, which would give the legislature power to change or revoke health orders and state of emergency declarations. There are concerns that small business owners and other civilians did not feel their voices were heard or considered when the state was crafting its COVID-19 policies.

DeWine said he has and will continue to work with a wide variety of people before making decisions. He asked the Ohio General Assembly to consider potential safety hazards, such as vacationing students who might bring back the virus and spread it.

“What this bill says is that a local health department cannot quarantine unless that particular individual has been medically diagnosed … and if the person who might have infected them has been medically diagnosed,” DeWine said, adding this may not be practical in many cases. “Let’s see what else we can do, what we can come up with, something that we’re all going to agree on.”

Locally, Belmont County Deputy Health Director Robert Sproul reported second doses of vaccine have been administered to adult school staff in the Shadyside Local and the St. Clairsville-Richland City school districts, with the other districts in the county to receive second doses today.

There have been 5,469 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Belmont County since the pandemic’s onset, with 181 people now isolated at home with active cases. There have been 5,118 recoveries, 66 people are hospitalized, and 104 people have died after contracting the virus.