Keep up with regular news updates regarding Columbus and Ohio’s response to COVID-19 here.
The Numbers
As of Monday, April 20, 1,119 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Columbus and Worthington, as well as 14 deaths, an increase of 159 cases and five deaths since Friday, April 17. In Franklin County, 1,510 cases and 35 deaths have been reported.
Statewide, Ohio now reports 12,919 confirmed and presumptive cases and 509 confirmed and presumptive deaths.
Schooling to Continue Remotely
On Monday, Governor Mike DeWine announced that students statewide would not return to school this academic year.
The decision comes after discussion with superintendents and legislators, the governor said.
He pointed to a couple of reasons for not sending students back to the classroom, including the continued presence of the coronavirus statewide and providing continuity for students with an already short remainder of the school year.
The governor also said there has not been any decisions made about the next school year.
New Racial Disparity Initiatives
State and local officials announced on Monday initiatives to address COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on communities of color, particularly Black Americans — an issue that has hit cities and states across the country particularly hard, with Ohio being no exception.
Among the disparities cited by officials: Black people are more likely to have jobs in the service industry which are considered essential, such as bus drivers, healthcare workers and grocery store cashiers; Black people are more likely to live in densely populated areas or in multigenerational households; and Black people are more likely to have some prior health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease.
Gov. DeWine announced he has formed a Minority Health Strike Force to explore these racial disparities and what the state could be doing to combat the issue. The task force is made up of leaders across the state, including Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and former Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and Dr. Mysheika Roberts, health commissioner for Columbus Public Health, announced Columbus Public Health’s Center for Public Health Innovation will be created to address health inequities facing communities of color, particularly African Americans, due to COVID-19.
As a part of a directive given to Dr. Roberts announced during the mayor’s State of the City address, the center will recommend policies to address racial disparities, with suggestions given to the mayor’s office “hopefully” within the next few weeks, said Dr. Roberts.
More Updates
More Data — The Ohio Department of Health will collect more specific data regarding COVID-19 cases in Ohio nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals. The data will be made available within the next week or so, and will be updated weekly.
More Meals for Children — Starting today, the Children’s Hunger Alliance is partnering with Columbus City Schools to distribute a third dinner or weekend meal to children at seven Central Ohio schools before expanding to all schools next week. More information here.
For more information on COVID-19 in Ohio, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.