5th Coronavirus Case In Ohio, Spring Break Extended For Schools

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio now has five confirmed cases of coronavirus, COVID-19, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday afternoon. As the virus continues to spread in Ohio, officials are banning any gathering of more than 100 people and are giving Ohio students an extended spring break of three weeks, starting Tuesday, March 17.

Dr. Amy Acton, the director of the Ohio Department of Health, said the COVID-19 pandemic is a once in a lifetime event. She said the decision to extend the closure of schools and ban large social gatherings will save lives. Acton said she believes at least 1 percent of Ohioans are now infected with the virus, which means approximately 100,000 residents have COVID-19.

"I know this is very hard for us to get our heads around," Acton said. "We're all waking up to this new reality."

Don't miss the latest updates from health and government officials in Ohio on the coronavirus. Sign up for Patch newsletters and news alerts.

Acton believes the spread of COVID-19 could peak in April or mid-May. She added that Ohio is effectively shutting down the structure of day-to-day life to slow down the spread of the virus. Decisions over the next few days will be crucial to saving lives, Acton said.

"These are long days ahead," Acton said.

Fifth Postive

The fifth confirmed infected person is a 55-year-old from Trumbull County. He has no travel history outside the state. He has been hospitalized, DeWine said. The man's family, his spouse and three children, are currently self-quarantined, Acton added.

"These numbers are going to continue to grow," DeWine said. "These confirmed numbers are a small fraction of the individuals who are infected already in the state of Ohio."

Officials confirmed that three of the infected persons live in Cuyahoga County and a fourth infected person lives in Stark County. The Stark County resident was the first case of community spread in Ohio — meaning the man did not travel outside of the nation and had no known contact with anyone who has been tested for COVID-19.

The Ohio Department of Health said it is currently waiting on COVID-19 test results for 52 people. Officials are also monitoring the conditions of 333 Ohioans.

Mass Gathering Ban

The social gatherings ban will not apply to schools, elections, weddings, religious gatherings, funerals, offices, grocery stores and other retail spaces. The ban will also not impact sporting events conducted without spectators, DeWine said on Thursday. Officials are determining how to address casinos.

The governor said Ohioans have a responsibility to think not only of themselves but of the people they could infect. Police officers could enforce the bans, DeWine said. In a similar vein, state departments are being instructed to have as many employees as feasible work from home.

"We have to run a gauntlet and we have to do it without losing too many people," DeWine said.

State officials are also sending a letter to President Donald Trump to halt federal inspections. DeWine said inspectors could move from building to building and unintentionally carry COVID-19 with them.

Extended Spring Break

All Ohio schools will have a mandatory extended spring break starting after classes end on Monday, March 16. The break will last three weeks, ending approximately on April 3. DeWine said the decision to close schools will be re-evaluated at that time.

Each school district will have to determine the accessibility of facilities during the break. Certain services, like lunches, will still be offered, DeWine said. Officials are determining how to distribute meals to families, without bringing parents or students into the building as a group.

"I'm not minimizing the impact this has on families," DeWine said. He added that families will have to sacrifice to take care of the children, but "this is the right thing to do."

The governor said his decision was based on medical advice from officials. Acton said some schools in Ohio have already closed because they have students being tested for COVID-19.

DeWine said there will now be restricted access to the state's psychiatric hospitals. Only essential personnel will be allowed to visit and they will have their temperatures taken before being given access.

There are currently 1,323 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in the U.S. and 38 related deaths as of Thursday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Anyone who suspects they may have contracted the virus should call their healthcare provider. Officials said patients should be assessed by phone or by their family doctor before going to a hospital.

Stay up to date on Patch's Ohio coronavirus coverage:

• Big Ten Basketball Tournament Canceled
• Cleveland Orchestra Cancels 3 Concerts Due To COVID-19 Fears
• Coronavirus Update: Cuyahoga Officials Expect More Testing Soon