2020 coronavirus pandemic in Ohio

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2020 coronavirus pandemic in Ohio
COVID-19 Cases in Ohio by counties.svg
  ≥10 confirmed cases
  1–9 confirmed cases
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationOhio
Confirmed cases67[1]
Suspected cases‡361[citation needed]
Official website
Ohio Department of Health
‡ Suspected cases have not been confirmed as being due to this strain by laboratory tests, although some other strains may have been ruled out.

This article details the viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S. state of Ohio. Ohio's governor, Mike DeWine, was "among the leading governors in the country" in addressing the coronavirus threat. Acting on advice from Ohio's Department of Health director Amy Acton, he declared a state of emergency on March 9 when Ohio had only three confirmed cases.

Timeline of spread[edit]

On March 9, Governor Mike DeWine reported Ohio's first 3 cases in Cuyahoga County.[2]

On March 11, a fourth case, and the first instance of community spread, was confirmed by DeWine in Stark County.[3] An additional 9 cases were confirmed on March 13, bringing the total to 13 (6 in Cuyahoga County, 2 in Stark County, 2 in Belmont County, 1 in Butler County, 1 in Summit County and 1 in Trumbull County) with 159 others under observation.[4]

On March 14 there were 13 additional cases confirmed, bringing the total to 26.[5]

The number of cases in Ohio climbed to 37 with 361 under observation by the 15th[6][7] and to 50 cases by the 16th.[8] As of March 17 the number of cases increased to 67 in 16 counties, with 17 hospitalized and 333 under observation.[1]

Government response[edit]

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine was one of the first state governors to "sound the alarm" about the coronavirus threat, taking action before Ohio had many confirmed cases.[9] Axios called him "among the leading governors in the country sounding the alarm about the threat of the coronavirus."[9] The Washington Post called his and Acton's response "a national guide to the crisis", pointing out numerous occasions when moves taken by Ohio were soon followed by other states.[10]

On March 3, when the state had no confirmed cases, DeWine cancelled the Arnold Classic, a move which the Washington Post said seemed radical at the time.[10] On March 5, when the state still had no confirmed cases, DeWine and Acton held a summit on COVID-19 preparedness for public health officials in the state.[11][12]

DeWine declared a state of emergency on March 9th while the state had only 3 cases.[13]

On March 12 OSU announced that all undergraduate students living in university housing would be required to return to their permanent home residences, or a non-campus or alternative housing arrangement and that the online class format would be extended to continue for the remainder of the spring semester.[14] That same day DeWine announced that all schools from K-12 would close for a 3-week break, starting March 16;[15] he was the first governor to announce statewide school closings.[9] The Ohio Department of Education updated their guidelines for ensuring schoolchildren received meals, announcing that each district would make independent decisions about providing reduced and free breakfast and lunch to students during the break but encouraging districts to ensure needs were met and stating the department would continue to reimburse districts for meals served during the closure.[16]

Also on March 12 Ohio Department of Health director Amy Acton instituted a ban on gatherings of more than 100, with exemptions for airports, workplaces, restaurants, religious gatherings, weddings and funerals.[6] Despite having only thirteen confirmed cases at the time, Ohio officials were predicting that there were over 100,000 cases in the state.[17] Department of Health director Acton compared the small number of cases to "seeing a star and knowing that light is a moment from the deep past"[18] as she argued for Ohioans to take steps to prevent further infections that could overload the state's hospitals.[18] State Representative Emilia Sykes called Acton "the real MVP of Ohio’s coronavirus response."[18]

DeWine and Acton on March 14 recommended Ohioans postpone elective surgeries.[19]

DeWine and Acton ordered the closure of all bars and restaurants starting 9:00 PM EDT Sunday, March 15, 2020, saying the government "encouraged restaurants to offer carryout or delivery service, but he said they would not be allowed to have people congregating in the businesses."[20][6] DeWine said he was "concerned that with St. Patrick’s Day coming up Tuesday, people would ignore warnings and go out to bars."[21] Closing of the state's estimated 22,000 restaurants was expected to affect some 500,000 workers.[22] DeWine expanded Ohio's unemployment insurance to cover laid-off restaurant workers. The state waived the qualifying waiting period as well as the requirement that individuals receiving jobless benefits must seek new employment. The action also was extended to workers who are under quarantine or those who work in health care.[23] DeWine announced his intention to close daycares and recommended parents remove their children from daycare if possible.[9]

DeWine said of the closings:[9]

Establishments can stay open for carry-out and delivery. What we can't have is people congregating and seated. Every day we delay, more people will die. If we do not act and get some distance between people, our health care system in Ohio will not hold up. The loss won't only be those impacted by COVID19, but the danger is also to everyone else who needs hospital care for other issues."

— Mike DeWine

Acton stressed the importance of "flattening the curve", saying:[24]

When our hospital systems are overwhelmed, that means if you are having a birth that you are planning, if you are in a car accident and need your hospital, if you have a stroke or an MI, even if you never get coronavirus, people in this country can die from something other than coronavirus.

— Amy Acton

Primary elections[edit]

Ohio's 2020 primary elections were scheduled to be held Tuesday, March 17. DeWine, Acton, and Secretary of State Frank LaRose held an afternoon press conference on Monday, March 16 to cover precautions being taken for the next day's primary election.[24] LaRose issued an order to county boards of election allowing curbside voting.[24]

DeWine recommended pushing the primaries into June[25] but did not think he had the authority to change the date.[26] DeWine and LaRose sought a court order to close down the elections, having former Ohio Department of Aging Director Judith Brachman file a suit in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas to delay the election, but Judge Richard A. Frye denied it, saying it would set a "terrible precedent" and would represent a judge rewriting election code hours before an election.[26]

Acton, who according to the Columbus Dispatch "has enormous powers during a health emergency", eventually announced at 10:08 pm that polls would be closed as a "health emergency."[26][27] DeWine announced that LaRose would "seek a remedy through the courts to extend voting options so that every voter who wants to vote will be granted that opportunity."[27]

A suit was filed in the Ohio Supreme Court to overturn Acton's action by Perrysburg attorney Andy Mayle on behalf of a candidate for a Wood County Common Pleas judgeship, Corey Spiewak.[28] The court ordered the state to respond to the suit by 1:30 am Tuesday, saying that "Due to exigent circumstances, this matter will be decided on the complaint and answer. No requests or stipulations for extension of time shall be filed, and the clerk of the court shall refuse to file any requests or stipulations for extension of time.[29][29] Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Solicitor General Benjamin M. Flowers filed an answer on behalf of LaRose.[30] A decision denying the writ was issued by four justices.[31] The three who did not participate in the decision were Judith French and Sharon Kennedy, both of whom were running for re-election, and Pat DeWine, who is the governor's son.[29]

Other responses[edit]

On March 9th Ohio State University moved all in-person classes to an online format until at least March 30.[14] On March 10, Mount Vernon Nazarene University stated that they would be moving classes to an online format by March 16 after 19 students came back from spring break in Italy.[32]

Impact on sports[edit]

Main article: Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on sports

Most of state's sports teams were affected. Several leagues began postponing or suspending their seasons starting March 12. Major League Baseball cancelled the remainder of spring training on that date, and on March 16, they announced that the season will be postponed indefinitely, after the recommendations from the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks, affecting the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds.[33] Also on March 12, the National Basketball Association announced the season would be suspended for 30 days, affecting the Cleveland Cavaliers.[34] In the National Hockey League, the season was suspended for an indefinite amount of time, affecting the Columbus Blue Jackets.[35]

In college sports, the National Collegiate Athletic Association cancelled all winter and spring tournaments, most notably the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, affecting colleges and universities statewide.[36] On March 16, the National Junior College Athletic Association also canceled the remainder of the winter seasons as well as the spring seasons. [37]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Coronavirus". coronavirus.ohio.gov. March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "3 cases of coronavirus confirmed in Cuyahoga County; DeWine declares state of emergency". March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "First case of community spread coronavirus reported in Ohio". WLWT. March 12, 2020. Archived from the original on March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  4. ^ Ian Cross (March 13, 2020). "13 coronavirus cases now confirmed in Ohio, 159 under investigation". News5Cleveland. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  5. ^ Drew Scofield. "26 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Ohio; Gov. Mike DeWine provides update". News5Cleveland. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "37 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ohio; 361 under investigation". WBNS-10TV Columbus, Ohio | Columbus News, Weather & Sports. March 15, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  7. ^ "36 cases of coronavirus confirmed in Ohio". News5Cleveland. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  8. ^ "Ohio coronavirus cases now up to 50". www.wfmj.com. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e Basu, Zachary. "States order bars and restaurants to close due to coronavirus". Axios. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Witte, Griff; Zezima, Katie (March 16, 2020). "Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's coronavirus response has become a national guide to the crisis". Washington Post. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  11. ^ Robbins, Adrienne (March 5, 2020). "Gov. DeWine holds COVID-19 coronavirus preparedness summit". NBC4 WCMH-TV. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  12. ^ "Is Ohio ready for coronavirus? Health officials discuss state's plan". WKYC. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  13. ^ "3 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ohio; DeWine declares State of Emergency". March 9, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Ohio State canceling in-person classes". March 9, 2020. Archived from the original on March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  15. ^ "Coronavirus in Ohio: Governor orders schools to take extended spring breaks starting Monday". NBC4 WCMH-TV. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  16. ^ Krouse, Peter; clevel; .com (March 16, 2020). "Ohio schools to continue feeding children in need during closings prompted by the coronavirus". cleveland. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  17. ^ "Ohio Department of Health believes 100,000 Ohioans are carrying coronavirus". WEWS. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  18. ^ a b c "Coronavirus in Ohio: We've done the infection math for you, and it doesn't look good". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  19. ^ Pelzer, Jeremy; clevel; .com (March 14, 2020). "Ohioans should postpone many elective surgeries because of the coronavirus, Gov. Mike DeWine recommends". cleveland. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  20. ^ https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/487684-ohio-closing-all-bars-restaurants-in-response-to-coronavirus
  21. ^ "Coronavirus: Governor orders Ohio bars, restaurants to shut down". The Columbus Dispatch. March 15, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  22. ^ Knall, Amy (March 16, 2020). "Local restaurants react to state ban". Canton Repository. Canton OH: Gannett.
  23. ^ Tobias, Andrew (March 15, 2020). "Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to expand unemployment to cover workers displaced by coronavirus,". cleveland.com. Cleveland OH: AdvanceOhio.
  24. ^ a b c "Coronavirus in Ohio Monday update: Election precautions and latest numbers of COVID-19". NBC4 WCMH-TV. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  25. ^ Higgins, Tucker (March 16, 2020). "Ohio governor pushes to extend primary voting from Tuesday until June 2". CNBC. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  26. ^ a b c Balmert, Rebecca Morin, Jackie Borchardt and Jessie. "Ohio election called off by coronavirus 'health emergency' after on-again, off-again day of confusion". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  27. ^ a b Rouan, Rick. "Coronavirus: Ohio Supreme Court allows delay to primary election". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  28. ^ Carson, Daniel. "Challenge filed with Ohio high court opposing DeWine's plan to delay primary". The News-Messenger. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  29. ^ a b c Tobias, Andrew J.; Hancock, Laura (March 17, 2020). "Citing health emergency, Ohio officials to order polls closed on Election Day, despite judge's ruling". cleveland. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  30. ^ "Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose's Answer" (PDF). supremecourt.ohio.gov. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  31. ^ "Merit Decisions Without Opinions" (PDF). supremecourt.ohio.gov. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  32. ^ "Stay Informed". mvnu.edu. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  33. ^ Feinsand, Mark (March 16, 2020). "Opening of regular season to be pushed back". MLB.com. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  34. ^ "Silver: NBA hiatus likely to last 'at least' 30 days". ESPN.com. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  35. ^ NHL statement on coronavirus NHL, March 12, 2020
  36. ^ NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships NCAA, March 12, 2020
  37. ^ NJCAA cancels spring sports, basketball nationals amid coronavirus outbreak MLive.com, March 16, 2020

External links[edit]

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