Coronavirus: DeWine closes K-12 schools, bans gatherings of 100+

Mar. 13--Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday ordered all public and private K-12 schools to close for three weeks, beginning at the end of the school day Monday, in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The "extended spring break" will impact 1.7 million students as well as parents who will scramble to find child care or make arrangements to work from home.

The closure, which does not apply to daycare centers, could extend beyond the three week period, the governor said.

Superintendents in Clark and Champagin counties said Wednesday they were already working on plans to close the schools, but didn't say then when they would likely close.

"In the event that district closure is required, plans are being finalized to ensure continued learning," Springfield City School District Superintendent Bob Hill, said Wednesday. The district was already planning to close on Election Day and do a deep clean in the districts on Wednesday.

Triad Local School District was working on a "what if" plan, Superintendent Vickie Hoffman said Wednesday.

Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton also signed a public health order immediately banning gatherings of 100 or more people in confined indoor or outdoor spaces.

The order exempts public transit, medical facilities, retail spaces, libraries and other transient settings as well as offices, restaurants, factories, athletic events without spectators and religious gatherings including weddings and funerals.

Public health orders may be enforced by police but DeWine said he hopes people will abide by them out of a sense of civic duty and patriotism.

DeWine said these steps are needed to slow the spread of coronavirus so that the health care system isn't overwhelmed with a spike in cases, which could trigger a shortage of equipment and health care workers.

"We know that it will continue to spread but slowing it down will enable health care providers, our hospitals, our doctors, will be able to stay up with the medical problems this virus is causing," DeWine said. "...We do not want to be in a situation where our medical providers are making life and death decisions on who lives and who dies."

Acton estimated that 1% of Ohioans -- more than 100,000 -- are already infected and the number will double every six days. Some models predict that cases may peak in late April to mid-May, she said.

"We don't have all the data. Our delay in being able to test has delayed our understanding of the spread of this so we have to make these modeling decisions," she said.

The Ohio Department of Health reported a fifth confirmed case on Thursday involving a 55-year-old man from Trumbull County. While he is in an intensive care unit, his wife and three kids are in quarantine and test results are pending.

Additional steps announced Thursday by DeWine include:

-- a public order will be issued banning all visitors to nursing homes;

-- a public order will be issued banning all visitors to the state's psychiatric hospitals;

-- the state Department of Job and Family Services asks people to call or conduct business online, rather than in person;

-- state agency directors will begin allowing state employees to work from home, when possible;

-- the ODH lab is now operating in three shifts and received more supplies to conduct coronavirus tests;

-- Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost will enforce state laws that prohibit price gouging during crises;

-- Ohio will ask President Trump to suspend federal mandates requiring state authorities inspect and regulate certain industries.

"We gotta run this gauntlet and we have to try to get through that gauntlet without losing too many of us," DeWine said at press conference. "Everyone has to think about other people. That's why this is so very important."

COVID-19, or coronavirus disease, is a respiratory disease marked by fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. The novel virus, first detected in December 2019 in China, is generally thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets, picking it up from surfaces, and between people who are in close contact with one another, about six feet.

The Center for Disease Control reports that there are 1,215 confirmed cases and 36 fatalities in the United States. While about 80% of cases are considered to be mild, those who are elderly or have chronic health conditions are high risk of complications, according to the CDC.

Ohio public health officials say there is evidence that the virus has been spreading within the community for some time.

Containing the spread

In recent days, sporting events have been cancelled, college administrators ordered instruction to be conducted online instead of in-person, and prison visits have been prohibited.

Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro said the union, which represents 122,000 teachers, supports DeWine's decision to close K-12 schools and stands ready to to work with state and local leaders to make sure children are in a healthy and safe environment.

The DeWine administration said schools should work to provide education through alternative means and staff should continue to report to school as directed by administrators.

The Ohio Department of Education over the next three days will develop guidance for schools on continuing important student services, including providing meals to those who receive free and reduced price breakfast and lunch.

When asked how limited testing capacity and delays may have hampered the country's ability to get a handle on the crisis, Dr. Acton said:

"The testing is important because it gives us good data on what's going on...I feel like this has been a very slow train coming my way and I'm almost relieved that it's here and we are all collectively realizing it because it is so predictable, a pandemic. I have assumed community spread all along. Very soon we'll probably stop testing at these levels because we'll just assume upwards of 70% and it's going to spread among us and we'll assume that it is here."

Acton said hospitals prepare for outbreaks on a regular basis and major medical systems are making plans on a regional basis.

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