By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS Associated Press, and staff
COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio has announced the state’s first confirmed cases of the new coronavirus that has sickened people around the globe.
This afternoon we learned that three Ohioans have tested positive for #COVID19. It's important for us to take aggressive action to protect Ohioans, and therefore, I have declared a state of emergency in #Ohio.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 9, 2020
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 from the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
To help prevent the spread of the coronavirus:
Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds often with soap and water.
If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
-Source: Ohio Dept. of Health/CDC
The state Health Department made the announcement Monday that three people in their mid-50s have tested positive.
All three are from Cuyahoga County.
They are a husband and wife who were on a Nile cruise, and a man who attended a conference in Washington, D.C.
Five people are currently being tested for the virus.
Gov. Mike DeWine has declared a state of emergency, allows Ohio to purchase health-related items without a bid, and partially activated the state Emergency Operations Center at 1:00 p.m. Monday to centralize coordination of the state’s response.
An investigation is underway to identify and reach out to everyone who has come in contact with the three people.
In response to the news, Ohio State has suspended lectures, discussion sections, seminars and other face-to-face classroom instruction settings in favor of virtual instruction at least through March 30.
University president Dr. Michael Drake announced the change in a statement Monday night.
While there are no campus-associated cases of COVID-19, we know that there are at least three confirmed cases in the state of Ohio, and we expect that there will be more. We are being proactive in an effort to prevent illness and continue the important work of the university. I understand that our policy guidelines will cause measurable disruption, but the risk of not acting outweighs the inconvenience of these temporary measures. The safety of our campus community is always our top priority. Your cooperation and collaboration will help to ensure an appropriate response across our institution to this rapidly changing matter. -statement from Dr. Michael Drake, OSU President
In addition, all university-sponsored international travel is suspended and domestic air travel will be limited to essential business. No new, non-essential on-campus events will be scheduled through April 20 and organizers of already scheduled events are being encouraged to evaluate whether the events should continue, Drake said.
Elections officials are moving some polling places out of nursing homes for the March 17 primary.
Ohio will receive $15.6 million from the federal government immediately to help the state and local public health departments prepare for the coronavirus, U.S. Sen Sherrod Brown said. The state will be able to apply for more funding in the event of an outbreak, its share of a recently passed $8.3 billion expenditure package that also includes money for medical supplies and research and development for a vaccine.