The state is asking newly-unemployed Ohioans to be patient when applying for benefits due to the high traffic volume.
Ohio’s unemployment claims skyrocketed last week with nearly 140,000 applications.
Compare that to fewer than 5,000 the week before.
A spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says most Ohioans can expect to get their payment within 7 to 10 days of applying.
That’s if they use the mass-layoff number and are otherwise eligible.
The Garth Brooks concert planned for Cincinnati has been postponed due to the coronavirus.
The country icon says he’ll play Paul Brown Stadium on June 27th, instead of in May.
Brooks has been playing free concerts on Facebook Live for fans while many of them are being told to stay home due to the illness.
Garth, like other celebrities, is urging people to practice social distancing and wash their hands in an effort to flatten the curve.
“We’re all in this together” was the message from some well-known Ohioans in a video put together by Governor DeWine’s office and played during the governor’s Tuesday afternoon coronavirus update.
People like former OSU football coach Jim Tressel and a Blue Jackets hockey player and a UFC fighter recorded messages urging people to be smart and safe during this coronavirus pandemic.
Former OSU great Chris Spielman had some motivating words.
“We’re in a fight, and the one thing I know about the Buckeye State is that if we get in a fight, we fight back and win.”
As of Tuesday afternoon there were 564 confirmed cases in Ohio and eight deaths. Hancock County was still at one confirmed case.
“When people are dying and people don’t feel safe, the economy is not going to come back. We have to #FlattenTheCurve so that when the wave comes, it’s not as big as it would have been and we are prepared for it,” DeWine said.
People experiencing coronavirus symptoms of shortness of breath, cough, fever of 100.4 or higher and fatigue should call the Blanchard Valley Hospital COVID-19 testing center at 419-423-7890.
For local information and resources people can call the Hancock County Resource Call Center at 419-425-9999.
(ONN) – The fate of the remaining school year, including graduation requirements and state-mandated testing, are among the top issues before lawmakers planning a return to Columbus this week to address challenges posed by the coronavirus.
Concluding the postponed primary election, currently reset for June 2nd, suspending evictions and foreclosures, prohibiting utility cut-offs and creating a grace period for people unable to renew their driver’s license with almost all BMVs shut down are also high on the priority list of lawmakers and Governor DeWine.
The House and Senate are both scheduled to meet Wednesday and Thursday.
Lawmakers would have to suspend rules to pass legislation on an emergency basis without the normal schedule of committee hearings.
As of Wednesday, March 25th, no visitors will be allowed at Blanchard Valley Hospital in Findlay or any other BVHS facilities.
Details are in the following news release from the Blanchard Valley Health System.
Due to community concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure that every precaution is being taken to prioritize the safety of our patients, Blanchard Valley Health System will no longer allow visitors. (Effective March 25, 2020)
This policy applies to all BVHS facilities including hospitals and outpatient clinics.
An exception of one caregiver per patient for the duration of the hospital stay will be granted for patients in our pediatric and labor and delivery care units. All surgical patients will be required to have one responsible adult support individual present. Inpatient areas and Emergency Room patients under the care of end-of-life services will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
At Bridge Hospice Care Centers, only four visitors will be allowed per patient per day. No visitors under 10 years of age. Visitors 10 to 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. They also must be able to comply with wearing protective equipment and are only permitted to stay one hour in each 24-hour period. Other situations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
All approved visitors will be required to submit to a screening upon entry and wear a visitor’s badge while in any BVHS facility.
People experiencing coronavirus symptoms of shortness of breath, cough, fever of 100.4 or higher and fatigue should call the Blanchard Valley Hospital COVID-19 testing center at 419-423-7890.
For local information and resources people can call the Hancock County Resource Call Center at 419-425-9999.
The Findlay Police Department says witnesses told them that a man acted like he had a gun in his pocket as he was confronted while stealing from a Walmart.
The theft happened at around 2:15 Monday afternoon at the Walmart on Tiffin Avenue.
Police say the suspect, later identified as Jason Durst, 41, of Fostoria, was confronted by a citizen and an asset protection employee.
The witnesses said Durst appeared to be holding a gun towards them in his pocket, and he pointed at his pocket.
Durst fled the scene in a vehicle that was stopped in Fostoria, and he was placed under arrest and taken to the Hancock County Jail.
Former Oklahoma Sooners running back Trey Sermon is transferring to Ohio State to join the Buckeyes for the 2020 season.
Sermon, who rushed for more than 2,000 yards in three seasons at Oklahoma, announced on his Twitter he would be putting on the scarlet and gray this fall.
Sermon missed most of 2019 with a knee injury. In 2018 he led the Sooners team with 947-yards rushing and 13 touchdowns.
With Master Teague sidelined with an achilles injury, Sermon becomes the Buckeyes most experienced running back and will compete for first-team snaps with Steele Chambers, Marcus Crowley, and Miyan Williams.
Sermon will be able to play immediately as a graduate transfer and has one year of eligibility remaining.
The U.S. Postal Service is telling Ohioans that their mail is likely safe from spreading the COVID-19 coronavirus.
USPS officials posted a statement on their website saying the CDC and the U.S. Surgeon General have indicated there is no evidence to show that the mail or imported goods are spreading the virus.
The World Health Organization also released a report stating the likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial products is low because of the poor survivability of the virus on those surfaces.
Currently, the most common way of getting the illness is from person-to-person contact through respiratory droplets.
As Governor DeWine revealed the latest coronavirus number in Ohio on Monday he warned that the actual number of cases is believed to be much higher.
As of Monday there were 442 confirmed cases in Ohio and six deaths.
The six deaths were in Lucas County (1), Cuyahoga (1), Erie (1), Franklin (2) and Stark (1).
Hancock County has one confirmed case that was announced on Sunday.
Health officials expect the number of cases to increase significantly in the coming days and weeks.
People experiencing coronavirus symptoms of shortness of breath, cough, fever of 100.4 or higher and fatigue should call the Blanchard Valley Hospital COVID-19 testing center at 419-423-7890.
In Hancock County, people call also call 419 425 9999 for coronavirus information.
The director of the Ohio Department of Health, Dr. Amy Acton, saluted nursing home workers, saying they’re doing a heroic job.
“I’m hearing amazing stories from the front lines. Staff are working tirelessly to take care of residents.”
She says people are also coming by and doing things in the windows that are lifting the spirits of the residents and staff.
At the governor’s Monday update he also announced a hiring freeze in state government, with exceptions for positions that provide a direct response to the coronavirus pandemic, safety and security and direct care or institutional services.
Gas prices keep dropping due to the lower demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Gas prices in the Findlay area could be seen as low as $1.39 on Monday.
The national average is $2.15, which is 44 cents lower than the average a year ago, according to AAA.
Dr. Greg Arburn, professor of economics and finance at the University of Findlay says he expects to see prices drop even more until they come up with a cure for the coronavirus or at least some way to manage it.
In the meantime, gas prices are lower than they’ve been for a long time, but we’re not able to take advantage because of travel restrictions.
Governor DeWine on Sunday issued a stay-at-home order for Ohioans.