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Marion officer becomes first corrections officer in Ohio to die from coronavirus

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine confirmed that 55-year-old Marion corrections officer John Dawson has died after contracting the coronavirus.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine started his daily address on Wednesday with some somber news, confirming that a Marion Correctional Institution officer has died after contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19).

John Dawson tested positive for the coronavirus on March 30. The 55-year-old had underlying health conditions and had been an employee of the Marion Correctional Institution since 1996.

A native of Mansfield, Dawson was the second officer at the MCI to test positive for the coronavirus. He is the first corrections officer in the state to die from the virus.

DeWine said that Dawson's death serves as a reminder that while Ohio is still doing relatively well at combating the coronavirus, the state is still seeing a large number of deaths.

As of Wednesday, Ohio has had 5,148 confirmed coronavirus cases, 1,485 of which have resulted in hospitalization, 472 ICU admissions and 193 deaths. Dating back to the discovery of the state's first positive coronavirus case on March 9, DeWine has taken several measures to encourage physical distancing, including a stay-at-home order that is currently in place until at least May 1.

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