COVID 19 Takeaway list for Friday, March 20. Here’s a list of all the important news about the Coronavirus pandemic that came to light today
COVID Takeaway 1: Coronavirus Cases
Ohio has recorded its first death. The victim is a 76-year-old Lucas County man who was a personal friend of both Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted. So far Ohio COVID 19 totals stand at 169 cases in patients ranging from 1 to 91. There’s a cluster at a nursing home in Miami County where 11 patients and healthcare workers have tested positive.
COVID Takeaway 2: Senior Center Shutdown
Governor DeWine is ordering all Ohio senior centers and senior daycare centers to shut down at the close of business on Monday. He says arrangements will be made to deliver meals to those affected and to provide other services offsite. He says that senior centers and daycares knew this was coming and he believes alternative arrangements have been made for those who need care.
COVID Takeaway 3: Daycare Shutdown
The Governor says Ohio daycares aren’t being closed just yet. But it’s coming. Arrangements will be made for daycare to be open for the children of healthcare workers. He says anyone with a child in daycare needs to be looking at alternatives.
COVID Takeaway 4: No Tests Required
The federal government is suspending the requirements for standardized testing in schools and canceling the SATs for this school year. The Governor stated that schools had previously been closed for three weeks and that closure could likely extend through the entire school year.
COVID Takeaway 5: Deadlines Extended for Taxes, Mortgages, Insurance
The filing deadline for income tax has been moved to July 15. There’s been a 60-day waiver on payments for federally guaranteed student loans. The White House has instructed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to work out mortgage relief for those unemployed due to COIVD-19. Ohio has ordered insurance companies to give employers a 60-day interest-free grace period on health insurance payments and to allow them to continue to cover some employees that might otherwise be ineligible.
COVID Takeaway 6: DeWine Will Shut Businesses If He Has To
Sounding a bit like an angry dad who’s about to turn this car around if you don’t shape up, the Governor says he doesn’t want to shut down all non-essential businesses but he’ll do it if they don’t enforce social distancing and other rules designed to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. “This simply must stop. I implore you. Do what is right. As I balance it with an attempt to keep the economy moving, I will air on the side of protecting people. No announcement today. But the bad behavior, the reckless behavior, must stop
COVID Takeaway 7: Stop Fighting Over Toilet Paper
Issuing a statement most of us never expected to hear from the Lt. Governor, Jon Husted begged Ohioans to stop brawling over toilet paper. “Stop fighting over toilet paper. “C’mon folks, we have to be better than that.” Husted went on to say that trying times like these are when we have the chance to show our real character. “Do you want to be remembered as someone who contributed to the public good or someone who fought over toilet paper?”
COVID Takeaway 8: It’s Going To Be Okay
The Governor read from the 23rd Psalm, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” He said that right now it can feel like we’re in that valley but we should remain hopeful. “Spring is coming.” He urged Ohioans to follow health professionals’ advice and not to panic.
Ohio Health Department Head, Dr. Amy Acton said, “This will last awhile. It won’t last forever.” She said Ohio was on the upward slope towards the peak of the Pandemic but that we would be able to flatten the curve and save lives with our behaviors.
