Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency. He has restricted visits to nursing homes and assisted living centers, asked indoor sporting events to voluntarily bar spectators, stopped visits for 48,000 inmates in Ohio’s 27 prisons and three youth detention centers, asked public and private colleges and universities to move to online learning, and will soon restrict mass gatherings.
Here are three things Clark County residents need to know about the coronavirus.
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1. Coronavirus declared as a pandemic, what is it?
The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus a pandemic and urges all countries to take aggressive action.
A pandemic is a disease that spreads worldwide, according to the WHO. An influenza pandemic happens when a new virus emerges and spreads around the world, and most people do not have immunity.
“We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action,” WHO’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday. “We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear.”
WHO is working around the clock to help support all countries.
“All countries can still change the course of this pandemic,” Ghebreyesus said. “If countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilize their people in response, those with a handful of cases can prevent those cases becoming clusters, and those clusters becoming community transmission.”
RELATED: WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic, urges aggressive action
2. Clark County moves polling location
The board of elections moved a Clark County polling location for Tuesday’s primary election after a directive was sent from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose to move polling places located in retirement or senior care facilities.
The location was at Fellows Terrace Apartments, 700 W. McCreight Ave. in Springfield. It will be moved to the National Trails Parks and Recreation District, 1301 Mitchell Blvd. in Springfield.
LaRose said that county Boards of Elections will be directed to have curbside drop off for absentee ballots on Election Day at the board offices — not the polling locations. Steps are being taken to make sure voting machines are disinfected and hand sanitizer is available at polling locations on Election Day, he added.
Clark County Board of Elections Director Jason Baker said his office is working to get special disinfectant wipes that will not damage certain pieces of voting equipment, working to get gloves for poll workers, and making sure sanitizer is available for all on Election Day.
Ohioans are urged to vote early as a precaution.
Early voting hours for Clark County is 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Thursday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. Election Day is Tuesday, March 17, and polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
RELATED: Coronavirus and Ohio’s election: Clark and Champaign taking precautions
3. Clark County districts work to prepare schools to deal with coronavirus
Gov. Mike DeWine took no actions on Wednesday regarding closing K-12 schools.
“If we come to that and schools have to be closed, we will certainly work with the schools to waive requirements, for example the testing requirements, if we reach that point,” he said.
The Springfield City School District will be closed on Tuesday, March 17, as a precaution for students since their buildings are used as polling places on Election Day.
“Our custodial team will disinfect buildings prior to the start of school on Wednesday, March 18,” said Superintendent Bob Hill.
All district-associated events are on as scheduled, and plans are being made in case the district is required to close.
The Northwestern Local School District will operate as normal, and is working to reinforce preventive measures.
“As a school district, we are closely monitoring this situation and taking guidance from the Clark County Combined Health District, Ohio Department of Health, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Superintendent Jesse Steiner. “We encourage our students, staff, and families to be mindful of key preventative measures.”
In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus, Gov. Mike DeWine recommended colleges and universities screen students returning from travel, hold classes online, eliminate international travel, ban spectators at sporting events, and cancel or postpone large gatherings.
RELATED: Springfield schools to close Election Day, remain open other days as neighboring districts
4. Clark County events and meetings canceled, postponed in effort to slow the spread of coronavirus
The Clark State Performing Arts Center (PAC) has canceled or postponed all scheduled events through March 31.
“Hard decisions are being made throughout the arts world — whether by commercial or non-profit enterprises — I feel and truly share any disappointment these cancellations bring,” executive director of PAC, Adele Adkins said. “This is a really tough time, and it is affecting all of us. In a field where our goal is to bring people together, the decision to cancel an event or show did not come lightly but is that right thing to do based on all the guidance coming from the CDC and Ohio Governor.”
The Goitse performance on Saturday, March 14 is canceled and The Theater Arts production of Urinetown scheduled for March 27, 28 and 29 will be postponed. Tickets purchased for these performances will be refunded from point of sale, those purchased online will be automatically refunded to the credit card the customers used, and those purchased in person or by phone should contact the box office at 937-328-3874.
The Springfield-Clark County Safety Council meeting on April 14 has also been canceled to minimize groups of people gathering. Their next meeting will be held on May 12 at Courtyard Marriott.
RELATED: Clark State Performing Arts Center cancels, postpones events
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