YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - As Mahoning and Trumbull Counties report their second deaths. and cases in Ohio jump to more than 1,000, Governor Mike DeWine said hospitals in the state need to double or triple their capacity.

Data now suggest there could be up to 10-thousand new cases a day during the peak of the virus in Ohio, which could be later than expected.

"Within about two weeks, it's going to kick in much harder, and we are going to start getting hit very hard in our hospitals and hospital admissions," said Governor Mike DeWine. "They project that we may not hit the peak until now mid-May."

DeWine has asked each of the eight regions in Ohio for a tentative plan on how hospitals will internally expand their space.

At Mercy Health locations, expansions are taking place now, prioritizing space for patients like never before, as more are coming through the ER doors.

"Just finding places where we can put the patients, and continue to work with our local and state health department and with our county's emergency preparedness offices, as far as locations in the hospital that we can use," said Dr. James Kravec, Mercy Health's Chief Clinical Officer. 

Meanwhile, Congressman Tim Ryan says there are potential options in the Valley if our healthcare systems become overwhelmed in the coming weeks.

"We've been in contact with the governor's office daily, trying to figure it out. We're having conversations obviously about Mercy expanding, Steward expanding, opening Northside Hospital," said Ryan. "I think now he's right, this is the week. Two weeks that we've really have to get things ramped up and prepared."

Covelli Centre officials said they haven't been contacted by anyone to potentially house patients, but are certainly willing to help the community in any way possible.

As far as using dorm rooms a YSU for expanded space, public information officer Ron Cole said no contact on the subject has been made at this time.