Governor DeWine gave the go-ahead for contact sports practice to start next week. This happened as COVID-19 cases in Ohio jumped 700 in a day. The spike is thanks to hotspots in Southwest Ohio. COVID-19 cases across the rest of Ohio continue to trend downward.
We check out the important points.
Contact Sports Practice Can Start
Practice and scrimmage for contact sports like football, basketball, and hockey can resume on Monday, June 22. Full training and scrimmages are permitted as long as safety protocols are followed.
While training is permitted, Governor DeWine said, “It will be up to local sports organizers and high school leaders on when it is the best time to proceed.”
Details about specific rules are available on the state’s Coronavirus website.
Southwest Ohio Hotspots
There’s been a troubling spike in COVID-19 cases in Ohio. Governor Mike DeWine listed five counties as the root of the problem:
- Clark
- Montgomery
- Green
- Warren
- Hamilton
Clark County’s numbers are related to an outbreak at the Dole plant and a nursing home.
In response, Governor DeWine said, “We will be increasing testing in these areas. We will also have more pop-up sites across the state. Here are some of the pop-up sites that we already have scheduled.”
The Governor said the state would respond by sending in the National Guard to assist with testing as many people as possible. DeWine encouraged everyone to get tested.
Portsmouth Pop-Up
Pop-up testing is scheduled for Portsmouth next Wednesday at the Compass Community Health Center. According to Director of Operations Greg Gulker, Compass has the ability to test just under 500 people. “We don’t expect that kind of flow,” Gulker said. “They are thinking about 300 people.” He said the National Guard will assist with crowd control and managing the event.
Normally, to get a test at Compass Community Health Center, you must call ahead to set up an appointment and pass a screening. For the pop-up testing event, so appointments are required. Anyone who wants a test can have one. Just show up to Compass Community Health Center at 1634 11th Street on Wednesday, June 24. Testing hours are between 9 am and 4 pm or as long as the test kits last.
Rise In Cases in Kids
DeWine also reported a concerning uptick in the number of children testing positive for COVID-19. Dr. Amy Edwards from Rainbow Babies and Children’s hospital in Cleveland encouraged that any child with symptoms to be tested.
She advised parents to be on the lookout for symptoms of the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. MIS is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs.