COLUMBUS, Ohio — “We are at a critical time and we need to get this right,” said Governor Mike DeWine.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is in a race against the clock.
Tuesday, he and Dr. Amy Acton, who heads the Ohio Department of Health, held a news conference on the state of the coronavirus.
- Universities and colleges should move courses online
- Don't attend any major event
- Visits to prisons and nursing homes will be scaled down
“We do at this point still have three confirmed cases in Ohio. We have 15 persons under investigation, and we have 14 people who have tested negative. We’re going to see these cases go up. We have many tests queuing up in our labs,” said Acton.
In an effort to brace for this imminent wave of infection, the governor is urging Ohioans to act now.
“People need today to take the steps that they can to proactively and voluntarily slow the spread of this virus,” said DeWine.
That means sitting out major sporting events in the state — like MLB season-openers, NCAA tournaments, and even high school games.
“The great concern is indoor events where there are spectators, and so the recommendation is that for indoor events where there are spectators, there be no spectators. The event can continue on with the athletes and with the people who are essential for that competition to take place,” DeWine said.
Changes are also coming to higher education. The governor is urging all Ohio colleges and universities to take their classes online —a step OSU and a few other large universities have already taken.
He says visits to prisons and nursing homes will also be dramatically scaled down in an effort to protect those in confined environments.
While there is no official executive order to enforce these recommendations, it may come eventually come down to that.
“By the end of this week, it will seem like a different world than it is today, and that’s the pace at which this change is occurring. It’s important for all of us to recognize the reality of the situation. Our lives will be disrupted,” said Acton.
Acton cited Italy. She said two weeks ago, Italy only had 9 cases and today, the entire country is virtually on lockdown.
She says right now we have the opportunity of a little bit of time on our side and that a little preparation will go a long way.
For updated information visit coronavirus.gov