Ohio shuts down schools for 3 weeks, bans big gatherings
We are ‘shutting down’ most structures of our society, one official says.
BUTLER COUNTY — Government orders, event cancellations and postponements continued Thursday as Butler County mirrored much of the nation in adjusting to a turbulent new way of life under the coronavirus pandemic.
An executive order closing all Ohio schools for three weeks starting at the end of the school day Monday was issued by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine during his daily news conference about the COVID-19 virus.
A fifth Ohio victim of the virus was confirmed — this one a 55-year-old male in Trumbull County — and the patient had not recently traveled outside of Ohio.
The state also ordered no gatherings of a more than 100 people in a single room or space.
“We are in a crisis, and we have to treat it like that,” said DeWine, who described his orders as “very dramatic and drastic action.”
“We have responsibility to save lives,” he said.
Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton joined DeWine and said the disruptive changes in everyday life must be done to contain the spread of the virus.
“We are basically, slowly shutting down most of the structures of our society,” said Dr. Acton. “We are sort of waking up to our new reality.”
That “new reality” continues to radically alter the normal ways of Ohio and the nation.
Thursday also saw major American professional sports leagues, college athletic conferences and state prep sports associations cancel regular and postseason play. Among the historic changes, the beloved tradition of Cincinnati Reds’ opening day will be delayed two weeks.
And across Butler County, public officeholders and local organizations scrambled to address questions about the COVID-19 virus, which continues to impact nations around the world in ways not seen in decades.
Official warns “we’re trying not to be Italy”
Butler County Health Commissioner Jenny Bailer welcomed the state’s sweeping edicts, especially the banning of gatherings — with some exceptions such as