News

3-week School Closure Begins; Election Day Prep Underway

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Ohio is making final preparations for the Tuesday primary as the coronavirus pandemic spreads.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose has ordered curbside absentee ballot drop-off stations at county boards staffed with bipartisan teams on Tuesday.

Children accompanied by parents and grandparents began picking up to-go meals at designated schools as at least three weeks of school closures begin.

Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered all bars and restaurants in Ohio closed.

A ban was earlier imposed on gatherings of over 100 people with some exceptions.

Ohio now has 36 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 350 people under investigation, as of Monday, March 16 at noon.

The Ohio Department of Health makes the following recommendations to protect yourself from illness:

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; dry hands with a clean towel or air dry hands.
Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are unavailable.
Cover your mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Stay home when you are sick.
Avoid contact with people who are sick.

Ohio’s coronavirus call center is open to answer questions from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The hotline number is 1-833-4-ASK-ODH or 1-833-427-5634.