Ohio governor unrolls $1M lottery prizes to urge vaccination

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has announced the end of coronavirus health orders in Ohio as of June 2

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is offering big lottery incentives — including a $1 million prize and college scholarships — in a last-ditch effort to get people vaccinated before the state's mask mandate and most other coronavirus-related state orders end June 2, he announced Wednesday. All Ohio's COVID-19 orders except those applying to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities will end, the Republican said during a primetime address. However, DeWine noted that stores and businesses still may require customers to be masked. With three weeks to go before restrictions lift, DeWine rolled out big-ticket motivators. Beginning May 26, adults who have received at least one vaccine dose may enter a lottery that will provide a $1 million prize each Wednesday for five weeks. In random drawings, the state will also provide five full four-year scholarships to an Ohio public university — including tuition, room-and-board, and books — to vaccinated Ohioans under 18. The money will come from existing federal pandemic relief dollars, DeWine said, and the Ohio Lottery will conduct the drawings.