COLUMBUS, Ohio - Governor Mike DeWine has made a slew of announcements Wednesday evening when it comes to the end of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statewide address, DeWine announced that all health orders in Ohio will end June second, except for restrictions in place for nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Measures being removed will include facial covering protocols, social distancing guidelines, and capacity restrictions for indoor and outdoor events.

Governor DeWine noted that individual businesses will make their own decisions on if masks will be required in their stores even though the mandate will be removed.

DeWine is also offering incentives for those who get vaccinated.

The governor said those between the ages of 12 and 17 who receive the vaccine have the chance to be entered into a drawing starting May 18.

For adults who receive at least one dose of the vaccine, DeWine is offering five people $1 million. 

That drawing will take place for five weeks beginning on Wednesday, May 26. 

The Ohio Department of Health will be the sponsoring agency for the drawing and the Ohio Lottery will conduct them. 

That money will come from existing allocations to the Ohio Department of Health of unexpended coronavirus relief funds.

Further details and contest rules will be announced by the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Lottery Commission next week. 

To be eligible, you must be 18 years or older to enter. 

DeWine is now asking businesses across the state to start offering incentives themselves to help get more people vaccinated. 

He said that schools and businesses can make their own decisions for how to keep people safe in their establishments, saying lifting these health orders will not prevent them from keeping their own restrictions in place. 

DeWine also announced that children 12-15 years old will be able to receive the Pfizer vaccine in Ohio starting Thursday. 

"These vaccines, for our kids, will not come soon enough," said DeWine. 

This comes as the two-week case rate per 100,000 people reaches the lowest ever at 123 since the state started recording it back in December. 

Back then, the case rate was at 845.5.

 

Ohio also has a lower case rate per 100,000 than all neighboring states. Ohio's number currently sits at 71.2, lower than numbers for Michigan (192.4), West Virginia (134.5), Pennsylvania (126.6), Indiana (101.9), and Kentucky (81.9).