In the battle to contain the coronavirus, the coronavirus is winning. Yesterday, the Ohio Department of Health reported 2,178 new - a record number for the second straight day. Daily cases are increasing and so are hospitalizations.
In his coronavirus media briefing yesterday, Governor Mike DeWine laid out a snapshot of how much the situation has changed over the last month. In mid-September, Ohio averaged around 700 new cases a day. Yesterday was more than three times that.
The state added 13 more counties to the red category or second highest alert level in its color-coded public health advisory system. Those additions include Cuyahoga - in red alert for the first time since late August -- Franklin and Summit. Statewide now, a record 29 counties, where 65 percent of the population lives, are at the red level. A little over a month ago, only five counties were at the red level.
The governor points to a number of factors driving the increase, chief among them people gathering with family or small groups without masks or social distancing spreading the virus. The governor said we are letting our guard down in situations where we feel comfortable.
Governor DeWine is predicting a long winter for Ohio due to the coronavirus, and it may seem even longer for students in the state's schools, as well as for their parents.
As cases rise, schools are adapting, changing their learning models based on the latest information from state and local health departments.
The coronavirus is putting a crimp on the final weeks of the campaign.
Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Kamala Harris abruptly canceled a planned campaign stop in Cleveland today after staffers tested positive for the coronavirus. This included Harris' communications director and a non-staff flight crew member. Neither had any contact with Senator Harris recently and her travel plans through the weekend were canceled out of an abundance of caution.
The effort to complete the U.S. Census count ended this morning after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this week in favor of the Trump administration's plan to knock off early.
The Supreme Court's order technically only paused the count while Census advocates battle the Trump administration in a federal appeals court. But, advocates say the pause essentially brings an early end to the most contentious Census count in history.
Locally, Census workers say stopping the process will hurt communities that still have low response rates -- mainly, poor and minority communities. Cuyahoga County residents responded in greater numbers than 2010, but it's estimate that about 30-percent of the community remains uncounted.
This week, Cleveland landed a number of events that may help the economy gain back the ground lost to the pandemic.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association named its locations for championships and tournaments from 2022 to 2026.
Among the events headed our way will be the 1st and 2nd rounds of the Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in 2025. In 2026, Cleveland will host the NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championships—also at the Fieldhouse.
David Gilbert, President and CEO of both the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Destination Cleveland talks about the economic importance of landing the events and the effort to help bring back the region’s tourism.
Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV
Jenny Hamel, Education Reporter, Ideastream
David Gilbert, President & CEO, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, Destination Cleveland
