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Coronavirus rattles the Mahoning Valley

COLUMBUS — More than 20 percent of the 39 reported COVID-19 deaths in Ohio are in the Mahoning Valley.

The Ohio Department of Health on Monday listed eight virus-related deaths in the Valley, including three — two in Mahoning County and one in Columbiana County — officially reported that day. After the state report, the Trumbull County Board of Health reported another COVID-19 death.

Overall, there are four deaths in Mahoning County, three in Trumbull County and two in Columbiana County from the virus.

Meanwhile, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday he’s extending the closure of schools through May 1.

DeWine said the decision shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.

COVID-19 DEATHS

There were 29 reported deaths from the virus in the state reported Sunday. Ten more were reported Monday.

The two newly reported deaths Monday in Mahoning County actually happened Friday and Saturday with both victims being men at least 80 years old, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

The latest COVID-19 death in Columbiana County happened Sunday to a woman in her 70s.

There were no details provided Monday about the latest Trumbull victim.

The other Valley deaths from the virus are:

• Mahoning County — a man between the ages of 60 and 69 on March 23, and a woman at least 80 years old last Wednesday.

• Trumbull County — a man at least 80 years old on Wednesday, and a woman between the ages of 60 and 69 on Friday.

• Columbiana County — a man at least 80 years old on Thursday.

The nine Valley residents died from the virus in about a week.

The other fatalities in Ohio reported as of Monday were five each in Summit and Miami counties; four in Cuyahoga; two each in Franklin, Lucas, Lorain and Stark; and one each in Athens, Delaware, Erie, Gallia, Huron, Lake, Medina, Montgomery and Portage counties.

There were 1,933 confirmed cases of the virus in the state Monday, up from 1,653 Sunday, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Also, there were 117 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mahoning County on Monday with 53 hospitalized, up from 84 and 46, respectively, Sunday.

There were 42 confirmed cases in Trumbull County on Monday with 24 hospitalized, up from 36 and 23, respectively, Sunday, the state health department reported. The Trumbull board later Monday reported 46 confirmed cases.

In Columbiana County, there were 13 cases with eight hospitalized, up from 11 and 8 a daily earlier.

Mahoning County has the fourth-most cases in the state and second-most in hospitals. It’s the 12th-most populous county in Ohio.

Trumbull has the 12th-most confirmed cases and the fifth-most in hospitals. It’s the 15th-most populous county in the state.

Statewide, 475 people have been hospitalized as of Monday because of novel coronavirus, up from 403 Sunday.

There were 163 people in intensive-care units with COVID-19, up from 139 a day earlier.

SCHOOL CLOSURE EXTENDED

DeWine said Monday he’s extending the closure of schools through May 1.

On March 12, DeWine ordered all kindergarten through grade 12 schools to close starting at the end of the school day March 16, through this upcoming Friday.

The governor said Monday it’s “certainly possible” there will be no classroom instruction this school year.

“We just don’t know yet,” he said.

Asked if extending the school year into June and July was a possibility, DeWine said he didn’t know, but it wasn’t likely.

He expressed concern about those students who don’t have internet access and the ability to do distance learning.

TESTING

The state has tested about 27,000 people for the virus, said Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health.

Testing is limited to the “sickest people, the high risk and health care workers,” she said.

Acton praised hospital systems for working together to “maximize their resources.”

But she added: “No hospital system in this world has ever faced what we’re facing now. Our planning will go through the surge and after the surge. We are learning a lot as we go through this.”

DeWine also said that state prison inmates have made 500 hospital gowns and will be able to make 44,000 when they get additional fabric. They’re also soon be making cough masks, similar to surgical masks, and will be able to make 5,000 a day up to a total of about 2 million.

“Every day we have the opportunity to be part of the solution or part of the problem,” Lt. Gov. Jon Husted added. “We know that not everyone is getting the message about social distancing. Those who do get it, we need your help to pass the information on to others.”

dskolnick@tribtoday.com

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