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
- Governor J. B. Pritzker announced a disaster proclamation to help the state tackle a growing number of cases. There are eleven people sickened from the virus.
- Three Chicago-area schools are closed Tuesday due to concerns around the virus.
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
- 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 officialsannounced 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 aresix 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.
