COLUMBUS – “Afternoon, everyone.”
That’s the typical opening for one of daytime television’s most popular shows: Gov. Mike DeWine’s daily press briefing from the Statehouse.
Flanked by health director Dr. Amy Acton and Lt. Gov Jon Husted and featuring guest stars, such as U.S. Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown and Adjutant General Maj. Gen. James Harris via Skype, DeWine updates Ohioans on the coronavirus pandemic and takes questions from reporters who are in a separate room to maintain social distance during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Across America, anxious and isolated individuals and families sheltering-in-place have their own version of “Wine With DeWine,” their governor’s daily press briefing, which is becoming a new daily ritual.
UPDATE 4/6/20 2:04 p.m. – The state on Monday reported that more than 4,450 people have tested positive for the coronavirus and 142 have died.
DeWine, New York’s Andrew Cuomo and Kentucky’s Andy Beshear have seen their visibility skyrocket amid the global pandemic.
The Ohio Department of Health call center is open 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to answer questions regarding COVID-19 at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
Click here for the latest information:
Ohio Department of Health coronavirus website
Ohio COVID-19 Dashboard displays the most recent preliminary data
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
A new survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds more Americans approve of the way their state government is handling the coronavirus outbreak than approve of the federal government’s approach.
After years of intense focus on Washington and a creeping nationalization of politics, the coronavirus crisis has become a reminder of the significance of leaders closer to home.
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An expanded stay-at-home order in Ohio includes new provisions for businesses and residents.
The order, which takes effect at midnight Monday, directs businesses that are still open to determine and enforce a maximum number of customers and to ensure those outside are keeping a safe distance from one another.
Walmart, Target and Home Depot are among the retailers who have already begun trying to limit the number of customers in their stores.
Walmart says it will now allow no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet at a given time, roughly about 20% of the average store’s capacity. To oversee the restriction, workers will mark a line at a single-entry door, and direct arriving customers there, where they’ll be admitted one by one.
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Ohio’s largest school district is transforming into a virtual learning organization on Monday as a statewide school closure remains in effect until at least May 1.
Columbus City Schools is putting all of its educational resources and school-related activities online.
That includes providing each of the district’s more than 50,000 students with their own email account to connect with teachers, principals, and school support staff about assignments, coursework, and other school-related activities.
Teachers will assign required work to students that will be accessed through the online learning platforms according to grade level and subject area.
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Anxiety associated with the coronavirus crisis, coupled with quarantines and lockdowns, can make an already unstable relationship turn violent, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein warns.
Klein says there were three domestic violence-related homicides in Columbus last month. In all of 2019, the city saw seven domestic violence homicides. Klein says the city also reported over 60 domestic violence arrests.
Despite lockdowns due to the coronavirus, resources are still available to those in need 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233
Klein advises checking on friends, especially those who may be in abusive relationships. Domestic violence victims are now more isolated, households are under more stress and that can create a dangerous atmosphere for victims, he said.