Gov. Mike DeWine delivers update on the status of coronavirus in Ohio

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine confirmed a new case of the coronavirus, which spread through community transmission, and issued two orders to help limit the spread of the virus, during a press conference Wednesday.

The individual is a 50-year-old male who lives in Stark County, located south of Cuyahoga County. Three cases of the virus were confirmed in Cuyahoga County earlier this week.

Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton said the patient had not traveled anywhere believed to have the coronavirus. She also said the patient did not have contact with someone who is suspected to have the coronavirus. 

This means the virus is growing through community spread, Acton said — when someone becomes infected with a virus through an unknown infected person within a community, according to an article from Popular Science.

“We expect to see these cases grow and see more community spread,” Acton said, explaining that the virus will be introduced to new areas through community spread.

An order has been issued for nursing homes and assisted living centers to limit the spread of the virus within the facilities and to others. The order asks facilities to keep a log of people coming in and out of the nursing home, if they do not have one already in place, to do wellness checks on patients before a visit, and to limit each patient to one visitor a day.

DeWine also ordered that mass gatherings not be held in Ohio.

These orders come just after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 (the new coronavirus) as a pandemic, according to The New York Times.

Acton stressed the importance of measures to be taken to slow down the spread of the virus across the state and country so the U.S. health care system does not become overwhelmed. 

She compared the U.S. to Italy, which has seen a spike of the coronavirus cases, causing the country to go into lockdown, according to a report from Newsweek. Acton said the situation in the U.S. has the potential to reach the severity of the outbreak in Italy. 

The report from Newsweek also presents information from Italian physician Daniele Macchini, who said there is a ventilator shortage in the hospitals. 

Potential ventilator shortages are a major concern for Acton. COVID-19 disportionately impacts the elderly, who would potentially need these ventilators if they contract the virus.

DeWine ended the press conference stressing the fact that the citizens of Ohio need to take necessary measures to help prevent themselves and others from getting sick.

“The outcome hasn’t been determined yet, but it is in our hands,” he said.