Coronavirus Pandemic: What you need to know Wednesday

The Ohio Department of Health is to issue a health order, likely today, requiring that K-12 children wear face coverings while at school, Gov. Mike DeWine said.

The new mandate comes after the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association and American Academy of Pediatrics Ohio Chapter issued a joint letter Tuesday recommending widespread use of masks in schools with the following exceptions:

• Children under the age of 2 years old
• Any child unable to remove the face covering without assistance
• A child with a significant behavioral/psychological issue undergoing treatment that is exacerbated specifically by the use of a facial covering (e.g. severe anxiety or a tactile aversion)
• A child living with severe autism or with extreme developmental delay who may become agitated or anxious wearing a mask
• A child with a facial deformity that causes airway obstruction

“Without a vaccine, we are limited in the ways that we can protect the people of Ohio,” DeWine said. “For schools to have a fighting chance to stay open this fall, widespread face coverings for K-12 students will increase the odds that kids will go to school and stay in school.”

DeWine’s briefing originally scheduled for Thursday was rescheduled for Friday at 2 p.m.

Things you should know today, Wednesday:

• A pop-up COVID-19 testing site will be operated at Wright State’s Nutter Center today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Mercer County has the highest number of cases in the state per 100,000 residents with 230 cases per 100,000 since July 21:

• Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, in clearing confusion about the sports order, said non-contact sports have been allowed to resume both practices and competitions. The state renewed an order on Aug. 1 regarding contact sports, but he cautioned that is not the return-to-play plan for fall.
• The state is working with the Ohio High School Athletic Association on a plan to return to play for football and other contact sports. New guidance could be issued in a few days, he said.
• Husted said the state has had conversations with the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals and are reviewing plans regarding fans attending those games this fall.
• DeWine said the state continues to see a coronavirus spread problem because of informal gathering among families and friends. “We all have to remember that just because it is your family or your friends, they could still be carrying the virus and not know it,” DeWine said.
• DeWine said the state is entering into a multi-state purchasing agreement with Maryland, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan and Virginia to expand the use of rapid point-of-care tests.
• Dr. Amy Acton will be leaving her role with the state and returning to the Columbus Foundation.
• Fairborn Fire Chief David Reichert discussed his battle with coronavirus. His wife also has the virus.

More things you should know today, Wednesday:

• The COVID-19 Minority Health Strike Force issued its interim report Monday, offering 18 recommendations from its four subcommittees and focuses on immediate action items to address COVID-19 and its impact on people of color. RELATED: Click here to read the interim report
• Outbreak on Champaign County farm illustrates how virus also hits rural areas
• Kings Island cancels 2 popular events because of uncertainties surrounding COVID-19
• Starting Aug. 9, child care providers can return to normal, statutory ratios and class sizes

Humana

LATEST STATE DATA: As of Wednesday afternoon, there have been at least 96,305 confirmed or probable cases in the state, 3,596 deaths, and 11,231 hospitalizations, according to the Ohio Department of Health. 72,950 people are presumed to have recovered from the virus in the state.

Ohio has an estimated population of approximately 11.7 million, census records show.

[ Local cases, deaths reported to Ohio Department of Health ]

There have been 1,569,479 people tested for the coronavirus in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

A total of 10,845 health care workers have tested positive which is about 11 percent of the cases.

[ Local cases, deaths reported to Ohio Department of Health ]

Cox Media Group