Coronavirus Peak Could See 1,600 New Cases Daily In Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH — Strict social distancing measures have dramatically blunted the coming surge in coronavirus cases in Ohio, Dr. Amy Acton announced on Wednesday. During the virus' peak, Ohio could see approximately 1,600 new cases daily.

Initially, state health officials projected there could be as many as 9,800 new COVID-19 cases daily in Ohio. "You have squashed this and stretched this curve. But please know that if you start going out, we'll go right back up. You have to keep doing what you're doing," Acton said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Ohio health officials confirmed the state has had 5,000 cases of the new coroanvirus. Since the start of the outbreak, 193 Ohioans have been killed due to complications from the virus.

"There is no way out of this without what we're doing together. What we're doing is going to affect each other. Please continue to stay home," Acton urged Ohioans.

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As Ohio crossed another milestone during the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Mike DeWine urged hospitals to conserve protective equipment and to send masks to Battelle to be sterilized and reused.

DeWine said it has been a struggle to get additional protective equipment and urged hospital officials to send their masks to Battelle.

"I want to make a public plea to everyone using these masks — every mask is precious. Please do not throw them away. We can reuse them up to 20 times because of this Battelle technology. When you throw a mask away you are depriving someone else of having a mask because we only have so many," DeWine said.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has promised to send 100,000 N95 respirator masks to Ohio, for use in hospitals. DeWine said those masks will be distributed through the Ohio Department of Health.

Helping Ohio Businesses

DeWine has asked the Bureau of Workers Compensation to send up to $1.6 billion in dividends to Ohio employers this spring. The bureau's board of directors will need to approve the request.

"This dividend equals approximately 100 percent of the premiums employers paid in policy year 2018. The Bureau of Workers Compensation will apply the dividend to an employer’s outstanding balances first, including the recent installment deferrals," DeWine said.

Any amounts exceeding outstanding balances will be sent to the employer, DeWine added. "For those employers, it means one less bill to worry about," the governor said.

If approved, approximately $1.4 billion would be sent to private employers and approximately $200 million would be sent to local government taxing districts (like counties, schools and cities).

Wednesday's COVID-19 Numbers

Ohio has had at least 5,148 COVID-19 cases since this outbreak began, state health officials said. More than 1,400 Ohioans have been hospitalized with COVID-19. Of those, 472 have been treated in intensive care.

Cuyahoga County continues to lead the state in confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 960. Twenty-three Cuyahoga County residents have died from coronavirus complications.

A stay-at-home order has kept many Ohioans within their house and away from office work. That order will remain in place through at least May 1, as state officials try to blunt the spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19 in Prisons

State Corrections Officer John Dawson, a 55-year-old from Mansfield, died Wednesday morning from COVID-19, DeWine announced. He was an officer at the Marion Correctional Institution, where he had worked since 1996. He tested positive for the virus on March 30.

Dawson was the second officer to test positive for COVID-19 in the Marion prison. He worked in the control center handing out equipment to staff. He had underlying health conditions, DeWine said.

"Our hearts go out to John’s family, his friends, and his coworkers. You are in our prayers," DeWine said.

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