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IT IS A CRISIS MOST OF US HAVE NOT SEEN IN OUR LIFETIMES. >> YOU REALLY CAN’T STAY HOME BECAUSE WE NEED THE SICKEST PEOPLE GOING TO BE EMERGENCY ROOM. STEVEN: TAKING MORE STEPS TO SLOW DOWN THE CORONAVIRUS, PULIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS CLOSING COME MONDAY AFTERNOON. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER IT WILL EXTEND HYEON THAT, BUT PEOPLE -- KIDS WILL NOT BE IN SCHOOL. STEVEN: GATHERING OF 100 PEOPLE OR MORE ARE BANNED. CHRIST THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME. IT IS THIS ONE IN 50 YEARS PANDEMIC THAT WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING FOR IT. STEVEN: THESE ARE THE STEPS THAT THEY HAD TO TAKE. >> WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO SAVE LIVES. WE HAVE TO TAKE THE BEST INFORMED ACTION, BASED ON WHAT EXPERTS TELL US, TO SAVE LIVES. STEVEN: THE ORDER TO CLOSE SCHOOLS DOES NOT INCLUDE DAYCARE’S. EACH DISTRICT WILL DECIDE HOW THEY WILL PROGRES

Advertisement All 41 public library locations in Cincinnati, Hamilton County to close amid coronavirus concerns Share Shares Copy Link Copy

All 41 public library locations in Cincinnati and Hamilton County will be closing "until further notice" to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus.Officials with the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County said all of its facilities will be closed to the public beginning on Friday at 6 p.m.The libraries will be closed for at least a week, but staff members will reassess the closure on a weekly basis by listening to the recommendations of state and local officials.Leaders with the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County said a staff member at the library's distribution center has voluntarily self-quarantined. They said there have been no confirmed cased of the coronavirus among staff members, but said they are taking all precautions possible to keep the community safe.Paula Brehm-Heeger, the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe director of the library, said they've been listening to the latest information from Gov. Mike DeWine's office, which stated that "aggressive early social distancing" can prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which led them to the decision to close all library facilities.All customers should hold on to their materials they've gotten from the library until further notice. The library will be extending due dates and will not be issuing fines.Many libraries serve as a polling place on Election Day Tuesday and will remain open for voting, according to staff members at the library.“We encourage our customers to use our robust eBranch, which features digital versions of books, audiobooks, music, movies, magazines, and more,” says Brehm-Heeger. “We’re redirecting more of our funds towards digital content to make sure even more digital resources are available for our customers during this time.”