Ohio Schools Closed Through May 1, Gov. Mike DeWine Announces

COLUMBUS, OH — All K-12 schools in Ohio will closed through at least May 1, Gov. Mike DeWine announced. He said the order to close the schools would be reevaluated on May 1.

DeWine's original order closed schools through April 12, keeping students out of classrooms for three weeks. At the time, the governor described the original closure as an "extended spring break."

The Ohio General Assembly waived state testing standards for schools and cleared the way for high school seniors to graduate, if they were on track to graduate. The assembly also froze the EdChoice voucher program, preventing it from expanding but allowing it to continue in its existing form.

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Deploying the National Guard

Ohioans should expect to see uniformed National Guard members in their community in coming days, Major General John C. Harris Jr. said on Monday. Guardsmen will be scouting for possible sites for emergency medical use and liaising with regional leaders on how the COVID-19 pandemic is unfolding locally.

"I promised that when the National Guard had a new mission that we'd tell you. You are going to see guard members in our communities in increasing numbers. They will be liaising with local leaders to make sure we're doing all we can to help," Harris said.

Helping Inmates, Homeless

Ohio prisoners are making surgical gowns and masks for use in hospitals, DeWine announced. Inmates will be able to make 44,000 gowns once they have obtained needed fabric. They will also be making hand sanitizer and face shields.

"They will be able to start making cough masks – similar to surgical masks — soon and will be able to make 5,000 a day up to a total of 2 million," DeWine said.

The Ohio Department of Mental Health Services is also releasing funds to help people living in recovery housing or engaged in treatment to maintain their current housing and prevent homelessness.

"This Department is also deploying some federal funds to cover additional expenses that Adult Care Facilities are taking on because of COVID-19," DeWine said.

Monday's COVID-19 Numbers

Ten Ohioans died from the new coronavirus, COVID-19, between Sunday afternoon and Monday. In total, 39 Ohioans have died due to complications from the virus.

Currently, there are 1,933 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ohio. At least 475 people have been hospitalized because of the virus, the Ohio Department of Health announced, and 163 people are in intensive care. There are confirmed COVID-19 cases in 70 of Ohio's 88 counties.

Cuyahoga County leads Ohio in confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 493. Summit and Miami counties have seen the most deaths from the virus, with both counties confirming five deaths.

The youngest person infected by COVID-19 in Ohio is a 1-year-old, while the oldest is a 98-year-old.