College students in Dayton protest sudden campus closing

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A look at developments related to the new coronavirus as Ohio tests for additional cases after confirming its first three.

CANCELLATIONS

Multiple public and private colleges and universities — including Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati — canceled in-person classes and moved instruction online at least through March. Among those was the University of Dayton, where early Wednesday police launched “pepper balls” containing an irritant to disperse a gathering of hundreds of students angered by the announcement that university housing was shutting down.

___

PREVENTION

In Toledo, the city council ordered the public utilities department to stop shutting off water to homes to ensure people could wash their hands, considered among the top things people can do to prevent the spread of the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.

___

ELECTIONS

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said 143 polling locations currently located in senior living centers or nursing homes, will be moved to new sites ahead of the March 17 primary.

___

TESTING

Health officials say three people have tested positive for coronavirus. Ohio is currently testing 15 people who have shown symptoms of respiratory distress and has cleared another 14 people through testing.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.

___

The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.