UPDATE regarding Ohio:
- Three Ohioans have tested positive for the coronavirus, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday. Two are a married couple who had been on a cruise on the Nile. The third is a man who had attended the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C. All three are in their 50s and Cuyahoga County residents. [Don't think any 5G there yet; only in Franklin County and Columbus] One of the three has been hospitalized.
- DeWine also declared a state of emergency yesterday which will allow the state to purchase supplies and other items without first calling for bids. It is a legal necessity that allows state departments and agencies to better coordinate in their response. [Yes, the government is here to save the day, so don't worry, be happy]
- Franklin County Board of Elections officials are finalizing alternate locations for the 21,000 registered voters who were set to cast ballots at those facilities, Director Ed Leonard said. Voting locations in 75 Ohio nursing homes, including 16 in Franklin County, will need to be moved because of concerns about the spread of coronavirus on Election Day, March 17th. [I heard on the radio that there's still time to request and send an absentee ballot - there'also concern about the touch-screen voting machines as well]
- Ohio State University announced Monday night that it would cancel in-person classes and moving to virtual instruction through at least March 30 amid coronavirus concerns. Additionally, Ohio State has suspended all university-sponsored international travel until at least April 20. Previously the university had canceled travel to certain countries under travel restrictions by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- DeWine called on Ohio colleges and universities to switch to “remote learning,” a day after Ohio State University announced it would cancel in-person classes.
- DeWine said his administration is not recommending school districts close yet, though he asked parents and teachers to prepare for the possibility.
- The governor also said the state has suspended visitors at prisons. No contractors or anyone else will be able to enter prisons unless necessary and their temperatures will be taken before they are allowed to enter.
- He also asked that groups limit large gatherings of people, cancel all nonessential travel and that some indoor sporting events not permit spectators. “A gathering of people in a close area even if it’s outside, experts believe that this should not take place. The same would be true with parades,” DeWine said. [Ooh, no St. Patrick's Day parade or other crowd gathering festivities featuring green beer]
- Some of Ohio’s Democratic state senators and their staff are working from home after a caucus intern reported being potentially exposed to the coronavirus. “We learned this morning that a Senate intern recently attended a conference where coronavirus was present,” wrote Senate Republican Chief of Staff John Barron in an email.
- There were no new confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ohio on Tuesday, just a day after the state announced its first three residents tested positive for the disease, according to the state. Fifteen people are awaiting COVID-19 test results from the Ohio Department of Health and 14 have tested negative, according to the state. ["according to the state" - ??? Seems a little peculiar]
- Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health, said that the state’s coronavirus call center is receiving around 100 calls per hour. “Each and everyone of us is asking a lot of questions and I am hearing from a lot from folks on the front line,” Acton said.
- Former Ohioan and professional basketball player LeBron James has declared he will not play if spectators are banned from NBA games. [Game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune (and now Dr. Phil) to film without audiences - both hosts in their 70s - Alex Trebek has Stage 4 pancreatic cancer]
Last edited: