Coronavirus In Ohio: Avoid All Large Gatherings, Governor Says

COLUMBUS, OH — On Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Mike DeWine outlined a series of recommendations for schools, sporting events and nursing homes to halt the spread of the new coronavirus. He said the changes hitting Ohio communities will be painful, but are necessary.

State officials are asking the NCAA to hold closed sporting events in Ohio moving forward. DeWine said he has also spoken with all of Ohio's professional sports teams.

"This isn't going to be easy," DeWine said during a press conference. He was flanked by Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, who said community spread is already happening in Ohio. She said "we have to solve this problem collectively."

Ohio's first confirmed cases of coronavirus, called COVID-19, were announced on Monday. All three infected people live in Cuyahoga County.

To halt the spread of the virus, DeWine is issuing a series of recommendations related to any place of gathering. The governor said he has not issued any mandates, but if the situation changes he could.

DeWine has also not issued any mandates in connection to travel, but he warned his family not to fly by plane.

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Here are the recommendations DeWine and health officials made to various institutions.

Schools (K-12)

• Do not close schools, yet.
• Parents, teachers and superintendents need to prepare for possible future closings.

Colleges

• Stop holding in-person classes. Professors should use technology to move lectures online.
• Students returning from spring break, who were overseas or on a cruise ship, should be screened by campus medical officials.
• All international travel by students and staff should be cancelled.
• Minimize the number of social gatherings happening on campus.

Sports

• Any indoor sporting events should be held without spectators. This recommendation applies to high school, college and professional sports.
  • High school sporting events can allow parents into the competition.
• Outdoor sporting events can continue, for the time being.
• Tailgating should not happen, even if it is taking place outdoors.

DeWine said both the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Ohio's two indoor professional sports teams, pushed back against the recommendations. The teams argued they have unique ventilation systems, DeWine said.

Parades

• Any parades should be cancelled, DeWine said.

Religious institutions

• Hand shaking or any other skin-to-skin contact should be eliminated.
• Sharing cups of wine or other surfaces among congregants should be eliminated or done very carefully.

Nursing homes

• All visitors should be screened carefully.
• Anyone who is sick should not visit a nursing home.

Prisons and youth services

• All visitation has been stopped.
• Only necessary personnel may go into prisons.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose outlined how the coronavirus would alter Ohio's upcoming primary election during his own press conference on Tuesday.