The public health fight to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in Ohio entered a new phase Wednesday after a fourth person contracted the virus despite not traveling or having contact with another known infected person.

"The message to the people of the state of Ohio today is: There is a new, big, huge risk in your life," Gov. Mikde DeWine said. "You never thought it was coming. I never thought it was coming, but it was here. And you better calculate that risk just like you calculate everything else you do in your life."

A 53-year-old man from Stark County, which includes Canton, is the state’s first example of “community spread,” which means it’s not clear how he contracted the disease. He had no history of travel outside of the United States and no contact with someone who tested positive for the COVID-19 disease.

Three previous positive cases were identified in Cleveland’s Cuyahoga County. One couple had traveled for a Nile cruise. Another man attended the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference in Washington D.C. All are in their 50s.

This new phase will mean restrictions on mass gatherings, including banning spectators at NCAA basketball games in Dayton and Cleveland.

DeWine said he is drafting an order to limit gatherings of large groups of people. He didn’t say how many people that order would limit. The order could include outdoor gatherings such as FC Cincinnati matches or Opening Day celebrations in Cincinnati.

"We have to look at everything now in regard to the fact that we have community spread," DeWine said. “It’s confirmed. It’s here. We’ve turned a new chapter. We have to look at things differently."

DeWine urged people planning large gatherings to “be responsible” and cancel such events. He suggested attendees consider whether the event is necessary, how close they would be to others.

“Whatever order we issue, and we will issue an order, it can’t cover every circumstance,” DeWine said. “If people understand the facts and really understand the facts and understand how dangerous this is, logical people will make logical decisions.”

State health officials also plan to order nursing homes and assisted living centers to take measures including limiting visitors to one per day. Nursing homes will keep logs to document everyone entering facilities. Anyone who enters will have their temperature taken and answer some health questions.

DeWine said the next step would be to ban all visitors, but the state isn’t there yet.

The state currently has no plans to close kindergarten through 12th-grade schools. Many colleges and universities in the state are offering online classes in the coming weeks.

"Each one of us is having to change how we live,” DeWine said. “We will get through this. Ohioans are resilient people. We are tough people. The sun will come up in the morning, but it will get darker before that sun starts coming back."

Hospitals are working on drive-up testing and developing a separate part of hospitals for infected patients, Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton said.

The Ohio Department of Health's coronavirus call center is open from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. every day. The number is 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634). The call center is staffed with nurses, epidemiologists and health experts.

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