Coronavirus in Ohio: Gov. DeWine extends school closures through May 1

COLUMBUS - Ohio's school buildings will remain closed through at least May 1, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday.

The initial public health order closed all kindergarten through 12th-grade schools through April 3 to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus.

But on Monday, DeWine said that order will be extended until at least May 1 and could extended through the remainder of the school year. DeWine's administration will re-evaluate students' safety closer to the end of April.

In the meantime, learning will continue remotely for Ohio schoolchildren.

“It made no sense if we were going to slow this down to have kids congregating in school,” DeWine said during a Monday news conference.

Would school be extended into the summer months? DeWine said it’s more likely that schools would finish out the year through remote learning.

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DeWine has heard concerns from superintendents that some students will be farther behind after this spring, as not all schools and families have the ability to do lessons online.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said internet providers are setting up Wi-Fi hotspots around the state so children can do schoolwork. The state is compiling a list of those.

Prison-made masks, gowns

Ohio prisoners are making additional personal protective equipment, such as masks and gowns, for health care workers as the demand rises.

DeWine said inmates have so far made 500 hospital gowns and can make about 44,000 once they get more material. They are gearing up to make up to 5,000 face masks, 1,460 gallons of hand sanitizer and face shields.

Some of the equipment, including masks, will be used in the prisons.

Hospital plans

The state’s hospitals are working together in regions to plan for a surge in novel coronavirus patients.

DeWine had asked regions to submit plans by Monday. Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton said that planning is ongoing and will change in the coming months. The Cleveland Clinic estimated Ohio would need anywhere from two to three times its current number of available hospital beds.

“No hospital system in this world has faced what we are facing around the world with coronavirus,” Acton said.

Some of that planning might designate certain hospitals to handle more severe cases and building temporary medical facilities that can treat more mildly ill patients. Those could be convention centers, dorms or hotel rooms.

Acton said Ohio is also working with neighboring states’ hospitals, such as Northern Kentucky's.

DeWine and Acton called on hospitals testing patients for the novel coronavirus to send samples to local hospitals or the state health department.

Private labs can take several days to turn around test results. The state lab can get results within eight hours.

"There's nothing wrong with the private labs," DeWine said. "They do good work, but they are behind."

1,933 cases, 39 deaths

Ohio had 1,933 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, as of Monday afternoon.

Of those, 475 were hospitalized and 39 have died, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Cases have been reported in 70 of Ohio's 88 counties.

Because of the state's limited testing and delays in reporting tests, that number is likely much lower than the total number of people infected.