Gov. DeWine held a press conference Sunday afternoon to announce important developments amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
- All bars and restaurants will be ordered to close tonight at 9 p.m. Carry-out and delivery is still acceptable.
- Ohio unemployment law has been changed to aid employees who are quarantined by a health professional or by an employer during this outbreak.
- The state is working with the federal government to allow small businesses to apply for low-interest loans up to $2 million.
- Bar and restaurant owners can return unopened high-proof liquor products to alleviate financial burden. Those items can be returned where they were bought.
- Ohio Schools: Three weeks won't be nearly enough time to be closed. It is likely the state will have to extend this order, DeWine said.
- State will be issuing guidance shortly to close Ohio's senior centers and adult daycare facilities. The state is not ordering that today, but it will be coming up, DeWine said.
>> RELATED: Coronavirus: DeWine orders Ohio bars & restaurants to close
New state coronavirus numbers were released this afternoon at 2 p.m.
At this time, 36 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Ohio with another 350 people awaiting test results, according to the Ohio Department of Public Health.
- Butler County: 6 cases
- Belmont County: 2 cases
- Cuyahoga County: 14 cases
- Franklin County: 3 cases
- Lorain County: 2 cases
- Lucas County: 1 case
- Medina County: 1 case
- Stark County: 2 cases
- Summit County: 2 case
- Trumbull County: 2 cases
- Tuscarawas County: 1 case
The ages of the infected people in Ohio range from 31-years-old to 86-years-old. There are 13 women infected and 23 men. There have been 11 hospitalizations and no deaths.
Here’s what you need to know today:
- Coronavirus Questions? Call Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County Hotline 937-225-6217. Ohio Department of Health Hotline 833-4-ASK-ODH.
- Greene County declared a public health emergency during an emergency meeting Saturday.
- The U.S. will suspend all travel to the U.K. and Ireland effective Monday. President also considering some domestic travel restrictions.
- Two local casinos are closed until further notice after Gov. DeWine limited gatherings of 100 or more people.
- Elections will go on as scheduled in Ohio on Tuesday. This is not included in the ban on mass gatherings.
- Kroger and Walmart announced hour changes for its stores beginning Monday to allow for a focus on replenishment and cleaning. Kroger stores in Dayton area will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. until further notice. Walmart stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- K-12 schools will be on an extended spring break from at least Monday, March 16 until April 3.
- No visitors to nursing homes; with the exception of end-of-life circumstances and clergy.
- DeWine is not asking daycares to close, but said this could occur in the future. Parents should be planning for alternatives, and if parents are able, should remove their children from daycare.
