Ohio’s Gov. Mike DeWine urged sports teams, including professional, collegiate and high school, to hold indoor athletic events without spectators during a Tuesday update on coronavirus concerns in the state.
“The recommendation is that for indoor events where there are spectators…that there be no spectators and that the event can continue on with the athletes, and with those people who are essential for that competition to take place,” DeWine said.
>> "Coronavirus: What you Need to Know" special to air on News Center 7 Wednesday at 6 p.m.
The NCAA has not made an announcement about the status of the First Four games at UD Arena since DeWine’s announcement.
>> Coronavirus: NCAA creates panel ahead of First Four, other tournament games
“The NCAA continues to assess how COVID-19 impacts the conduct of our tournaments and events,” the NCAA said in a prepared statement. “We are consulting with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel, who are leading experts in epidemiology and public health, and will make decisions in the coming days.”
WGI Sport of the Arts, which holds its World Championships at UD Arena, Nutter Center and other area venues said it expects to make a decision on the competition this week.
“WGI is having ongoing conversations with state and county health officials regarding the upcoming WGI Championships,” said WGI CEO Ron Nankervis. “We expect to have a decision regarding the status of our events by the end of this week.”
Colleges and universities have canceled classes and imposed travel restrictions in reaction to the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak, with word that three Ohioans in state have tested positive for the virus.
DeWine instituted a state of emergency Monday, which gives state officials more power to take action more quickly -- purchasing health-related items without a bid, for example.
“This disease will for a period -- will for a period -- significantly disrupt our lives,” he said.
Dr. Amy Acton, director, Ohio Department of Health, said, “We’ve learned from history and we’ve studied pandemics and I do call this a pandemic because in my mind, it definitely meets the criteria when we see this sort of community spread.”
Acton said, “Increasingly we’re knowing that the older you get, the more at risk you are. Younger people seem to be even less a risk than the flu. But we know our seniors are most at risk and those are the groups we’re reaching out to now -- the overweight, people [who are] immune compromised, [who have]chronic diseases.”
Here’s what we know today:
>> Governor announced several steps to held slow the spread of coronavirus during a news conference Tuesday.
>>Multiple counties have announced changes in some polling locations ahead of next Tuesday's elections. Polling locations were moved out of retirement or senior living facilities as a precaution for the spreading virus.
>> The University of Dayton imposed travel restrictions and will decide "on a case-by-case basis" whether its athletic teams will be able to travel:
>> The Ohio State University has canceled in-person classes, effective immediately, at least through March 30
>>A Dayton-area couple quarantined on a cruise ship in California have been moved to an airbase
>>The global death toll has surpassed 4,000, according to the latest estimates
>>The Ivy League announced both men's and women's basketball tournaments will be cancelled, based on guidance from public health and medical officials to limit large gatherings on college campuses.
