COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Republican Gov. Mike DeWine was set to eliminate mandatory state testing for schools this year and allow mail-in voting for the postponed primary through April 28. In Toledo, the county health department closed temporarily after two employees tested positive for the coronavirus. So far, at least 15 deaths in Ohio have been linked to the outbreak. A look at virus-related developments in Ohio on Friday:
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ACTION IN COLUMBUS
DeWine planned Friday to sign Ohio’s first major piece of legislation in response to the pandemic. Among the changes: eliminating mandatory state testing for schools this year and extending the deadline for filing state income taxes to July 15.
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PRIMARY VOTING
The new legislation also sets a timeline for the postponed primary election that will almost exclusively be mail-in voting through April 28.
The Ohio Supreme Court on Friday signed off on dismissing a complaint from the Ohio Democratic Party, which had opposed DeWine’s initial plan to push the primary to early June.
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CASES
Among the more than 860 cases, about 220 people have been hospitalized, with nearly 100 in intensive care.
The state is limiting testing to those who are hospitalized and to health care workers. The Department of Health said people with suspected symptoms should call a medical provider first but seek immediate help if symptoms are serious, such as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
For most people, COVID-19 displays mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can be more severe, causing pneumonia or death.
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STATE OF STATE
DeWine postponed next week’s State of the State address, citing the need to maintain social distancing.
“We have taken steps to ensure that the business of our state is carried out in a safe and careful manner to protect our many public servants, their families, and anyone with whom they come into contact,” said a statement released by the governor and Republican leaders in the House and Senate.
The speech will be rescheduled after the state of emergency is over, DeWine said.
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HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHUTTERED
The health department in Toledo closed temporarily and won’t reopen until early next week after two employees tested positive for the virus. Much of the staff with the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department is now self-quarantining.
Amy Acton, the state’s health director, said she didn’t know of any other county health departments that have been forced to shut down. But she said it wasn’t surprising because so many will get the virus, and there are contingency plans in place.
Many health department employees were upset that they have not been told which employees tested positive and worried they might have been exposed, the head of the union representing workers told The Blade.
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Seewer reported from Toledo.