Valley coronavirus updates: School closures, event cancellations, Warren case
COLUMBUS — A patient reported to be at St. Joseph Hospital in Warren is Ohio's fifth confirmed case of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, state health officials announced Thursday.
The patient is a 55-year-old man from Trumbull County who had no prior travel history outside Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine said during a Thursday afternoon briefing.
That man is currently in the hospital's intensive care unit, said Dr. Amy Acton, Ohio Department of Health director. Mercy Health announced Wednesday evening the hospital was caring for him.
Acton said the man had been ill for a little more than a week and had "pre-existing health issues" before being diagnosed with the virus. Local health departments on Thursday worked to contact people who reportedly had contact with him during that time, she said.
"Fortunately, he did not go to work when he evolved these symptoms and felt sick," DeWine said.
The man's wife and children also have been quarantined and also may have contracted the virus, though their test results have not yet been confirmed, Acton said.
As the man did not have any prior travel history outside the state, this case, as well as the state's fourth confirmed case — reportedly in Stark County — are evidence of what health officials call "community spread," when the infected do not appear to have contracted the disease during foreign travel.
"At the very least, 1 percent of our population is carrying this virus today," Acton said, adding the virus' transmission can double every six days. "We most definitely have community spread."
One percent of Ohio's population is about 100,000 people.
To date, 30 people in the state have tested positive for coronavirus. Another 52 state residents are under investigation, Acton said. An unconfirmed hundreds more have since been notified by health officials that they possibly had contact with an infected person and have been told to self-quarantine, she said.
"Medical experts have explained to us these numbers are going to continue to grow," DeWine said. "We know these confirmed numbers are only a small fraction of the individuals who are infected already in the state of Ohio.
"Further, we believe this is, in all likelihood, all throughout the state of Ohio. These numbers will grow."
Acton said state virus testing labs are now working in three shifts to test more virus samples. Though the state earlier this week had the capacity to test up to about 400 samples, the addition of testing kits brings that capacity to about 1,500 samples, she said.
During the Thursday briefing, DeWine also announced all public, private and charter K-12 schools in the state will be ordered to close for three weeks at the end of the school day on Monday.
The state-mandated closure will continue until at least April 3, DeWine said, though he added the state has not yet ruled out extending that closure.
DeWine also announced a ban all mass gatherings of 100 people or more in the state. The measure includes large events held in outdoor or confined indoor spaces such as auditoriums, stadiums or theaters, but does not apply to religious gatherings.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted added, however, voting in the state's primary election on March 17 does not meet the measure's definition of a mass gathering, and said "Election Day will go on as planned."
Husted said the Ohio Secretary of State's office is currently seeking polling place volunteers to replace some of the current poll volunteers who may have unique health conditions that put them at risk of contracting coronavirus. To sign up to be a volunteer, visit voteohio.org/defenddemocracy.
State health officials again directed the public to the state's coronavirus hotline, 833-4-ASK-ODH (427-5634), which is manned by nurses, or to visit coronavirus.ohio.gov for more information.
Here's a rundown of other coronavirus stories making headlines in the Valley and elsewhere:
MAHONING COUNTY
YOUNGSTOWN
• The City of Youngstown is canceling all citywide special events until further notice. Mayor Jamael Tito Brown said he "will continue to update the residents of Youngstown with information through social media and will be doing so through all media sources within the coming days."
• The City of Youngstown has also called a media briefing on the area's preparedness for COVID-19, set for 10 a.m. today at the Covelli Centre. Mayor Brown is expected to be joined by Warren Mayor William Franklin, Struthers Mayor Catherine Cercone-Miller, Lowellville Mayor James Iudiciani and Campbell Mayor Nick Phillips, as well as the city health commissioners of Youngstown and Warren.
• The WWE event scheduled for March 15 at Covelli Centre has been canceled. Refunds are available at all points of purchase. The Ohio Athletic Committee's Wrestling State Championships scheduled for March 21, 22, 28 and 29 at Covelli have been suspended and likely will be held at a later date. Refunds will be issued at point of purchase; if you have tickets, they will be honored at the rescheduled event.
• The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber has postponed its 2020 annual meeting, originally scheduled for March 19. All registration payments made for the meeting will automatically transfer to the new date, which the chamber is working to secure. For questions or to receive a refund, contact Chelsea Pascarella at 330-744-2131, ext. 1225, or chelsea@regionalchamber.com.
• As of today (March 13), the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley is allowing only homeless clients and staff to enter the facility. Until April 13, all volunteers, donors and other visitors will not be allowed to enter the facility and are asked to call the mission during regular business hours to reschedule their planned activities. The mission will continue to receive new homeless clients. Individuals who are experiencing homelessness must go through a two-step screening process to determine if they are candidates for receiving overnight shelter at the mission. The mission will continue to provide meals three times daily to the public. Instead of offering seated meals to public guests (those not staying overnight), all public meals will be offered in a to-go format and will be available outside the shelter during regularly scheduled meal times. For more information, call John Muckridge III, president/CEO of the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, at 330-744-5485.
• The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County has canceled programming and events beginning Friday (March 13) through April 3. Currently, all libraries in the PLYMC system remain open. A March 19 event to preview the main library's renovation and construction plans will still take place, but the event also will be live-streamed for those who would like to access the information remotely.
• Lit Youngstown has canceled its ekphrastic poetry workshops scheduled for March 28 and April 2.
• Youngstown State University's Cliffe College of Creative Arts has canceled all events sponsored and hosted by the college. For questions, contact Director of the Office of Community Engagement and Events Lori Factor at 330-727-7514 or lafactor@ysu.edu.
• All March events at the McDonough Museum of Art have been canceled.
• Mercy College of Ohio is indefinitely moving face-to-face lecture class meetings to an online format, starting March 17. All classes at the Youngstown and Toledo locations are canceled for March 16. All co-curricular and social gatherings are canceled, and non-essential travel is suspended. The College will remain open. As of now, the spring commencements that scheduled for May 1 in Toledo and May 7 in Youngstown will continue as planned. For questions, reach out to Jonathon Fauvie at 330-965-8178 or jonathon_fauvie@mercy.com.
• OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children's Center for Science & Technology will close to the public for three weeks effective immediately.
• The Healthier at Home and Healthy Eating workshops scheduled for March 17 at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital and March 24 and 26 at Howland Medical Center have been canceled. Those registered for the program will be provided with alternative dates. For more information, call 330-480-3070.
• Potential Development School for Students with Autism has postponed its 2020 Mahoning Valley Pizza Cook-Off event scheduled for March 29 at Waypoint 4180. A new date will be announced when it becomes available.
• Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice Senior Center, 1110 Fifth Ave., will be closed for three weeks as a precaution against the spread of the novel coronavirus. The center is expected to reopen April 6. Supportive services will be provided remotely to members. Participants are being notified, and signs are posted at the center.
AUSTINTOWN
• Austintown Local Schools has canceled classes today, as staff prepare for a three-week, state-mandated closure of all Ohio schools, which could last until at least April 3. The district's spring break, scheduled from April 10 to 17, will continue as planned. Students may continue to receive breakfast and lunch from district schools, which may be distributed at the township's two fire stations, The Early Learning Center or Austintown Elementary School. The district is expected to release more information on meal services.
CAMPBELL
• The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County has temporarily closed the Campbell Library Express in Campbell High School's D'Amato Field House. The branch will remain closed at least until the school reopens.
CANFIELD
• Operation Blessing at Canfield Presbyterian Church will begin distributing food at 9 a.m., an hour earlier than usual, on March 19. Patrons will be greeted by volunteers near the entrance. Once processed, bags of food will be brought to patrons' cars, limiting contact for those with health concerns.
• Canfield Village Middle School is postponing the seventh- and eighth-grade drama production of The Sound of Music. The show was scheduled for March 13 to 15. Patrons who purchased presale tickets will be reimbursed if a new date is not selected, according to a Thursday release from the district.
BOARDMAN
• To prepare for a potential increase in patients, Akron Children's Hospital has enacted restricted visitation and visitor screening measures. The hospital will allow no more than two visitors per day per patient and is barring visits from siblings or children younger than 18. The hospital plans to screen visitors for illness, travel history and COVID-19 exposure. It has also cut those aged 60 and older — those at the highest risk of contracting the illness — from its volunteer force.
• The Home Builders & Remodelers Association of The Valley is postponing its 2020 Economic Forecast Breakfast, originally scheduled for March 20 at Mr. Anthony's. The event has not yet been rescheduled. For questions, contact Jennie Brewer at jennie@hbamv.org or 330-965-9779.
POLAND
• The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley has postponed its annual meeting to May 13 at the Lake Club. If you have already registered, your registration will transfer to the new date. For questions, reach out to Roxann Sebest at rsebest@ymvunitedway.org or 330-746-8494.
TRUMBULL COUNTY
CORTLAND
• Lakeview Local Schools announced five students may have come into contact with coronavirus in a district alert sent to parents Thursday. Superintendent Velina Taylor told WFMJ the students attend Lakeview's elementary, middle and high schools. On Thursday the students were self-quarantined and were not displaying symptoms of the virus, Taylor said. The alert was not published to the district's website or its Facebook page. The district canceled classes and all other school activities Friday and Monday ahead of the three-week state-mandated closure of all K-12 schools in the state.
NILES
• Youth Market Day, scheduled for Saturday (March 14) at Eastwood Mall, has been rescheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 16.
WARREN
• The Packard Band Concert scheduled for March 15 and the Trumbull Town Hall scheduled for March 18 at Packard Music Hall have been canceled. Refunds will be issued at point of purchase. All other events scheduled for March at Packard Music Hall are subject to cancellation or rescheduling.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
• The White House and the Capitol Building were closed to the public Thursday. "Out of an abundance of caution and until further notice, White House tours have been canceled," White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said.
• U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown temporarily closed his Washington D.C. office after a Senate staff member in another office has tested positive for COVID-19. Brown and his staff will work remotely.
SPORTS
• In Columbus, the Ohio High School Athletic Association canceled the state girls basketball tournament right before the West Branch game at St. John Arena at Ohio State University Thursday. The OHSAA postponed indefinitely the state tournaments for girls basketball, ice hockey (Friday and Saturday at Nationwide Arena) and wrestling (Friday through Sunday at the Schottenstein Center) as well as the regional tournament for boys basketball, including Thursday's Chaney-Akron SVSM game in Canton.
• Also Thursday, the United States Hockey League announced a suspension of all games through the end of March. The Youngstown Phantoms games against the Dubuque Fighting Saints this weekend at the Covelli Centre won't be played. All Phantoms practices, workouts and team meetings have been suspended.
• After the country's major athletic conferences canceled their basketball tournaments, the NCAA announced on Thursday it has canceled the 2020 NCAA tournament, along with all winter and spring championships.
• Major League Baseball and the NHL joined the NBA in suspending indefinitely.
• The PGA Tour also announced Thursday that its events would be closed to the public through at least April 5, including this weekend's Players Championship.
• Major League Soccer said it is suspending its season for 30 days. The U.S. Soccer Federation canceled upcoming matches for its men's and women's teams.
NATIONAL
• As of Thursday, the U.S. has reported 1,654 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 41 deaths, according to the New York Times' database.
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged again Thursday, closing at 21,200.62 points. That's down 2,352.60 points from yesterday — almost 10 percent.
• U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont, announced his presidential campaign will no longer hold large public events or canvass door-to-door, instead moving to digital outreach and asking staffers to work from home.
• Former Vice President Joe Biden's presidential campaign is suspending fundraising events "indefinitely" in favor of online fundraisers, according to POLITICO. The campaign has also canceled multiple other public events.
• Utah Jazz All-Star forward Donovan Mitchell confirmed he has contracted the coronavirus. His teammate, Rudy Gobert, became the first NBA player to test positive for the virus.
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To keep up to date on the coronavirus, check out these links:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ohio Department of Health and here.
Here is a collection of stories from Mahoning Matters
Here is a collection of stories from Mahoning Matters' partner, The Center Square
Here are stories from YaleMedicine.org
Here are stories from AARP.org
Here are stories from National Geographic
Here is a map from the New York Times
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 3:40 PM with the headline "Valley coronavirus updates: School closures, event cancellations, Warren case."