The director of the Ohio Department of Health revealed a staggering number during a Thursday news conference amid the coronavirus outbreak.

She estimates over 100,000 Ohioans could be carrying coronavirus. 

"We know now just the fact of community spread says that at least one percent. At the very least one percent of our population is carrying this virus in Ohio today," Amy Acton said. "We have 11.7 million people. So the math is over 100,000. So that just gives you a sense of how this virus spreads and is spreading quickly."  

Thursday's news conference revealed that the fifth confirmed Ohio coronavirus case is a 55-year-old Warren man. 

"These numbers are just going to continue to grow. We know that these confirmed numbers are only a small fraction of individuals who are infected already in the state of Ohio," Gov. Mike DeWine said. "Further, we believe that this is in all likelihood all throughout the state of Ohio. These numbers will grow."

Health experts say the number of cases today will double in six days and that will just continue to go on. 

On Wednesday, March 11, we learned that Mercy Health St. Joseph Hospital in Warren is caring for the Trumbull County patient who tested positive. Officials say he did not travel outside Ohio and was not sure how he got it. The man is in the ICU and his spouse and three kids have been placed in quarantine, according to Acton. They are awaiting test results for his family. Officials say the man had 27 contacts who are isolated, quarantined or just being monitored. They say as more possible contacts come to their attention, they will continue to follow up on those contacts. If you have not heard from health officials, they say there's no reason for you to be concerned about being in contact with the individual. 

DeWine also announced a ban on gatherings of 100 or more people. They define mass gatherings as any event or convening that brings together 100 or more people in a single room or space at the same time such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, theater or any other confined indoor or outdoor space. This would include parades, fairs and festivals.

The ban does not include normal operations of airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls, and centers, or other spaces where 100 or more people may be "in transit." It also does not include typical office environments, schools, restaurants, factories, or retail/grocery stores where large numbers of people are present, but it is unusual for them to be within arm’s length of one another. Voting will go on as planned but they're encouraging people to take advantage of early voting. There has been no time limit set for how long this ban will last. You can click here for more information. 

It was also announced that all schools in the state, public and private, will close for an extended spring break. At the end of the school day on Monday, March 16, schools will close and remain closed until April 3. They will then review what to do from there. 

DeWine says we have a responsibility to save lives, and they could have waited to close schools, but based on the advice from health experts, this is the time to do it. 

According to Acton, the measures the governor is taking are very decisive, and they are measures we'll see fellow states making alongside us. She adds every measure they're taking is to slow down the spread of disease. Slowing it down, and decreasing that spread dramatically, will keep the numbers low enough so we don't overwhelm the healthcare system. She points out there are limited amounts of things such as ventilators, and they must be used wisely by the sickest patients. 

On Wednesday, March 11, it was announced that a 53-year-old Stark County man had coronavirus. Officials say this was a case of community spread, which means he did not travel outside the country or have any known interaction with those who have knowingly had coronavirus.

On Monday, March 9, three Cuyahoga cases were reported. They were all in their mid-50s. Two are a husband and wife who were on a Nile cruise. The other is a man who attended a conference in Washington, D.C.

As of Thursday, March 12, there were five cases and 52 people under investigation. 

For more information about coronavirus, click here. 

You can also call 1-833-427-5634. The call center is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. to answer questions regarding COVID-19.

You can click here to watch Thursday's news conference.