COLUMBUS – In the face of a growing coronavirus outbreak, Gov. Mike DeWine ordered bars and restaurants in the state of Ohio to close and hinted that the state’s schools may not reopen this school year.
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He said carryout and delivery services would not be affected but as of 9:00 p.m. Sunday restaurants and bars would no longer be allowed to admit sit-down customers.
We will be issuing an order closing all bars and restaurants in #Ohio beginning at 9:00 tonight.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 15, 2020
The announcement came as the number of confirmed cases in the state grew from 26 on Saturday to 37 on Sunday and the number of counties where cases had been confirmed increased from eight to 11.
The number included Franklin County, where three cases has been confirmed, including a Columbus fireighter.
On CNN’s “State of the Nation” Sunday morning, DeWine said it’s possible that Ohio schools may be closed for the rest of the academic year, a statement he repeated during a Statehouse briefing Sunday afternoon.
Schools: Three weeks likely won't be enough time to be closed. It is likely we will have to extend this order. #COVID19 #COVID19OhioReady
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 15, 2020
The governor cited projections that the virus may not peak until the latter part of April or May and said that “it would not surprise me at all if schools did not open again this year.”
DeWine on Thursday ordered every school in Ohio to close for three weeks beginning at day’s end Monday.
The state health director also issued an order banning gatherings of over 100 people, although some places and events are exempted