Cases of the novel coronavirus –– or the disease caused by the virus, COVID-19 -- continue to mount throughout the Midwest. Some states have turned to closing K-12 schools or colleges.
Here’s the latest from the region:
Illinois:
- As of Tuesday afternoon, there are 19 people infected with coronavirus. The state has identified a few of these cases as "community spread" which means the disease is spreading in the community, as opposed to someone traveling in from a country with numerous cases.
- Officials are encouraging residents to prepare for disruption of daily activities.
- Governor J. B. Pritzker announced a disaster proclamation to help the state tackle a growing number of cases.
Iowa:
- There are now eight cases of the coronavirus in Iowa -- a sharp increase from last week.
- Reader Question: What counties in Iowa has the coronavirus been identified in?
- Answer from Iowa Public Radio reporter Natalie Krebs: “So far, seven in Johnson County and one in Pottawattamie County. The Johnson County people were all on a cruise in Egypt, and the Pottawattamie County person was recently in California.”
Indiana:
- Tuesday afternoon, Indiana University canceled classes at all campuses until two weeks after spring break. Then, classes will continue online until April 5.
- Since Friday, there have been six reported cases of the virus in Indiana.
- A school district southwest of Indianapolis closed its doors after a student tested positive for coronavirus.
Ohio:
- Late yesterday, Ohio health officials announced three people are sick with COVID-19, and the Ohio governor declared a state of emergency.
- As a measure to contain the virus, Ohio State University has suspended all in-classes through the end of March. Instead, the university is pivoting classroom instruction to online.
Missouri:
- There remains one active case in St. Louis, Missouri.
Kentucky:
- There are six cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky.
- Gov. Andy Beshear waives coronavirus testing fees.
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 coronavirus. 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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