DeWine orders closure of facilities for adults with disabilities

COLUMBUS, Ohio - In what has become appointment viewing for Ohioans with fears and questions over the coronavirus and its impact in the state, Governor Mike DeWine spoke gravely of a spike in cases across the state, which rose by 78 since the numbers from the day before.
In Saturday's announcement, DeWine ordered the closure of adult day services for those with developmental disabilities that hold more than ten people.
The Governor said he did not want to issue the order until he'd been assured there would be alternative care for those who need it, which he said he is now confident will happen.
He said he's been receiving calls and texts regularly from Ohioans saying as they look around, they still see people congregating, which said is unacceptable, saying he will be taking more measures as early as Sunday to stop people from spreading the disease.
"This invader, this virus, continues to infiltrate across our state. Community spread is, at this point, widespread," DeWine said but reminded everyone these new numbers are not a surprise and have been anticipated.
"What we do now will determine how many of us die," DeWine said as he continued to stress how sacrifices made now can impact how this disease spreads.
The Governor spoke in the language of war, referring to the coronavirus as the enemy, an enemy he said cannot advance without our help.
Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Public Health, said the moment she's been saying would come is nowhere, where community spread would be widespread.
"Our case numbers are a historical snapshot of the past," Acton said, saying that a lack of available tests has made it difficult to demonstrate the reality on the ground.
She stressed, however, that if someone has the symptoms of the virus and does not get a test, it will not change the way they are treated, saying the tests need to be reserved for the most critical cases. In most cases, the virus can be treated at home and does not require hospitalization.
"We are taking people off of ventilators in Ohio, " Acton said, adding there are more deaths than the official numbers show.
Later in the briefing, Acton clarified she was not referring to a shortage of ventilators in the state. Acton said Ohio is not to the point where care needs to be rationed, and efforts being made now are aimed at the state never getting there.
Acton said there are hotspots for the virus in Dayton, in Tuscarawas county and Cuyahoga counties, Acton said.
DeWine opened the briefing with words of sympathy for the family of Representative Don Manning, who died unexpectedly earlier after experiencing chest pains. Manning's death was not related to the coronavirus, but DeWine said he had been working closely on the crisis with the Governor.
The afternoon briefings have taken place every afternoon since before the first case was announced in Ohio and have often included announcements of sweeping orders and policy directives aimed at slowing the spread of the disease.
Those measures have included closing schools, bars, restaurants, senior centers, and even postponing a primary election, all designed to keep people from gathering in large groups.
The moves are meant to avoid overwhelming the state's hospitals, which only have limited resources for dealing with the virus, which can be deadly for those with underlying health conditions or are elderly.
Acton said more information would be announced by the state's hospital systems early next week, including possibly reopening closed hospitals.
She said some of the hospital's pandemic response strategy would include a regional approach, with large hospitals in bigger cities working with smaller hospitals, a theme Acton first spoke of on Thursday with 21 News reporter Lindsay McCoy on the 21 News Podcast.
In that podcast, she said the Mahoning Valley would benefit from its proximity to large hospitals in the Cleveland and Akron areas. However, specific information on how that will work has not yet been announced.
Acton acknowledged the economic impact of these decisions, saying her office is also working with economists and scientists to determine and mitigate the damage done, particularly to those who are most vulnerable economically.
Lt. Governor Jon Husted also addressed the "cascading effect" on the economy of this outbreak.
Husted announced the Bureau of Workers Compensation would allow businesses to defer payments until June 1 at the earliest. The deferment could last longer, depending on the status of the pandemic in June.
Husted said this would keep $200 million in the economy.
"We're all in this together, we'll get through it together, and we will come out of it strong," Husted said.
The final speaker in Saturday's briefing was Lori Criss, the head of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, who spoke of the mental toll the coronavirus crisis is taking.
Criss urged anyone who is struggling to maintain their medication and appointments with caregivers, albeit via telehealth visits, which are virtual visits conducted via electronic devices.
"The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone," Criss said.
As DeWine closed the briefing, he thanked Ohioans for the efforts they were taking and said there will likely still be more action taken by executive order.
"We've done all the orders we're going to do for today. Stay tuned tomorrow," he said.