Events across the country continue to be cancelled, many schools are closing and the stock market is being shaken dramatically. Now, many public health experts are criticizing the lack of available testing to determine if someone is infected with coronavirus. Here’s the latest news from the Midwest:
Indiana:
- All 11 school districts and all charter schools in Marion Co., the main metropolitan county, are closed through April 5.
- The governor announced all gatherings must be capped at 250 people, and is asking medical facilities to screen and limit visitors.
Illinois
- The governor ordered the cancellation of events with more than 1,000 attendees.
- Illinois’ nursing homes and retirement communities are taking measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Iowa:
- Des Moines Public Schools — the largest district in the state –– cancelled classes for 17 days.
Missouri:
- Visitors have been banned from state prisons for 30 days.
Ohio:
- The governor announced the closure of K-12 schools in the state, and has left families scrambling.
- Catholic bishops lifted the requirement to attend mass for three weeks.
Kentucky:
- Schools, universities and courts move to close in Kentucky.
- There are 12 confirmed cases in the state.
Check back to Side Effects for frequent round-ups of coronavirus news from the Midwest. We also want to help you sort fact from fiction when it comes to virus. Email health@wfyi.org or text “health” to 73224 with your questions, and we will search for the answers.
This is a rapidly evolving story, and we are working hard to bring you the most up-to-date information. However, we recommend checking the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most recent numbers of COVID-19 cases.
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