New modeling from health experts in Ohio predict the state’s coronavirus peak won’t happen until mid-May and as many as 10,000 new cases a day could be reached.



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With projections showing new coronavirus cases could accelerate to 10,000 each day in coming weeks, an escalating number of Ohioans continue to fall ill — and die — from the virulent infection.

Reaching four figures for the first time, state health officials reported Friday afternoon that another 270 residents — a 31% increase — have been diagnosed with COVID-19 — bringing the statewide total to 1,137.

Another three deaths from the highly infectious respiratory disease also were reported, bringing the toll to 19 since the first three cases of coronavirus cropped up less than three weeks ago.

Stark County now has 22 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with six of them in the hospital. Half of the people hospitalized are between the ages of 50 and 59, state data show.

No new deaths in Stark County related to the virus were reported Friday. The county learned of its first death, a 58-year-old man, on Monday, and its second death, a 92-year-old woman, on Wednesday.

Mahoning County recorded its second death Friday. It has 68 positive cases with 27 hospitalizations.

Tuscarawas County did not see an increase in cases with three total positive cases and two hospitalizations. Carroll County also remained at three positive cases with all three in the hospital.

State officials have said the number of confirmed cases likely are low due to a limited amount of tests available. More than 20,100 Ohioans have been tested as of Friday, less than a half-percent of the state’s population.

Figures showed 276 Ohioans hospitalized, with 107 in intensive-care unit beds.

The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has prompted a stay-at-home order through April 6 to help prevent its spread, leading to the closures of scores of non-essential businesses and throwing hundreds of thousands of Ohioans out of work.

Gov. Mike DeWine said Friday that new modeling from Cleveland Clinic shows the peak of the virus now reaching into mid-May and called on the state medical system to step up and meet the coming demand for care.

State health director Dr. Amy Acton followed to say that the updated modeling by public health experts finds that the pandemic will continue to grow, potentially reaching up to 10,000 new cases each day. She cited daily figures to 6,000 to 8,000 on Thursday.

Many of those cases will never be confirmed by testing since a large number will be infected with no or mild symptoms, she said. Acton estimates 40% to 70% of Ohioans will contract the disease over the year.

"Within about two weeks it’s going to kick in much harder and we’re really going to start getting kicked very hard in our hospitals and hospital admissions," the governor said.

Hospitals need to quickly double, or triple if they can, their number of beds and ICU capacity. DeWine wants rough drafts of hospital’s plans to achieve the feat on his desk by 8 a.m. Saturday.

DeWine said, "We have a long way to go and that’s the stark reality. The good news is our hospitals have been thinking about this, planning for this, (and are) beginning to move forward."

At the beginning of his press briefing Friday, DeWine highlighted the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s efforts to erect 500 American flags on its campus. DeWine has asked Ohioans to fly a flag to show unity.

DeWine also on Friday signed into law the emergency pandemic-response bill unanimously passed on Wednesday by the Ohio General Assembly.

The 28-point law includes a mail-only primary election ending April 28 — after polls were ordered closed on March 17 — and postponement of the state tax-filing deadline to July 15.

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, joined DeWine for his news conference by phone to describe the near $2 trillion coronavirus relief package passed by Congress when the House approved Friday. He declared the pandemic "a once-in-a-lifetime crisis."

Individuals with annual taxable income of less than $75,000 or a couple with less than $150,000 will automatically receive checks for $1,200 and $2,400 respectively, Portman said.

Eligible parents will also receive $500 for each child. Those with individual taxable incomes up to $99,000 a year will receive smaller checks. "It’ essential to get people some cash quickly," he said.

Portman said other programs will help businesses stay open, offer additional unemployment benefits and channel money to hospitals to "ensure we are dealing with this pandemic in an appropriate way, which means testing" and development of a vaccine.

Limited testing

Acton said Friday that while more than 20,000 Ohioans have been tested, it remain limited.

"We’re in the heavy part of the storm and going into the eye of the storm," she said.

Isolation appears to be working to partially check the growth of coronavirus cases, but state and medical officials are working to double hospital and ICU capacity to deal with the projected flood of coming cases.

The state ordered K-12 schools closed effective March 17, throwing nearly 1.7 million school children out of their classrooms. The order extends through April 3. DeWine replies "absolutely" when asked if school could be out for the remainder of the academic year.

The closure of businesses and spiraling numbers of unemployed are taking a big chunk out of state and local income and sales tax collections, prompting DeWine to instruct his cabinet directors to quickly identify "dramatic" budget cuts extending through mid-2021.

The Canton Repository contributed to this report

Although the @ProFootballHOF in #Canton is temporarily closed, its campus became home to 500 American flags through its #HuddleUpAmerica program, and the generous support of Flags of Freedom. #InThisTogetherOhio pic.twitter.com/HoZ5ZuKzno

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 27, 2020

Watch DeWine’s briefing below:

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