Ohio hosts coronavirus summit with local health officials

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Health Department Director Dr. Amy Acton planned a Thursday summit with local health officials to discuss preparations for the coronavirus.

Presentations at the half-day event in Columbus will include steps to take after a case of COVID-19 is confirmed and how to identify people vulnerable to the virus.

Ohio has no confirmed cases so far and is monitoring one person who showed signs of the disease.

“These are the individuals in the health departments who are on the front line,” DeWine said Wednesday. He added that making sure the state’s response is consistent from health agency to health agency is one goal of the summit.

DeWine and Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther continue to pressure organizers of the annual four-day Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus to restrict the number of spectators at the event which attracts thousands to Columbus.

Late Wednesday, DeWine and Ginther threatened legal action against the festival if an agreement reached Tuesday isn’t honored. A sports festival spokesman promised a response later Thursday.

The festival is the city’s largest single event with an economic impact of $53 million each year.