COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine held his 10th consecutive daily press conference on Wednesday as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hit Ohio and the world.
88 cases have been confirmed in the state, with 26 hospitalizations. Ashland County has now seen its first case.
Here is the breakdown:
- Ashland (1)
- Belmont (2)
- Butler (8)
- Coshocton (2)
- Cuyahoga (38)
- Darke (1)
- Delaware (1)
- Franklin (7)
- Geauga (1)
- Huron (1)
- Lake (2)
- Lorain (6)
- Lucas (1)
- Mahoning (3)
- Medina (4)
- Stark (3)
- Summit (4)
- Trumbull (2)
- Tuscarawas (1)
DeWine announced several key actions on Wednesday as the state continues to try to slow the spread of coronavirus.
- DeWine issued an order to close hair salons, barbershops, nail salons and tattoo parlors across the state.
- He ordered the closing of 181 of the state's BMV locations. Five BMV locations, which are essential to issuing and renewing commercial drivers' licenses, will remain open.
- He advised Ohio's businesses to take the temperature of their employees daily in an effort to help screen out sick people.
"Businesses should do everything they can to monitor their workforce. We're dead serious about employers taking temperatures. We're expecting them to do this," DeWine told the media gathering.
The governor was joined as always by Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Ohio Department of Heath Director Amy Acton.
"This is not unlike a war, and you're going to see heroic acts," Dr. Acton said on Wednesday. "Before this is over, there are going to be so many stories of so many heroes - like the person driving the truck with the essential food, you're a hero."
The DeWine administration most recently issued orders tightening his mass gathering ban to gatherings of more than 50 people, and has also stopped hospitals from performing elective surgeries unless they become medically necessary.
The coronavirus has so far killed more than 8,700 people worldwide, including more than 100 in the United States.