Governor DeWine: 1,137 Coronavirus Cases/19 Deaths

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine held his daily coronavirus briefing Friday afternoon at the Statehouse in Columbus. State health officials announced that another 270 residents have been diagnosed with coronavirus which brings the statewide number to 1,1,37. There have now been 19 deaths of COVID-19. There are also 276 Ohioans, including a Muskingum County man, hospitalized in intensive care units. There is also a 3-month-old Muskingum County boy with COVID-19. The Governor also signed a major piece of legislation during the briefing that eliminates mandatory state testing for schools and extends the deadline for filing state income taxes to July 15th. The Governor said Friday that he had a call with the Cleveland Clinic and they gave him new information they have in regard to their modeling and their projections and the peak of the pandemic is now mid-May. In addition, the Cleveland Clinic said the state will need to go up three time in hospital capacity. The Governor also announced an effort to try to support small businesses through a campaign that will encourage Ohioans to support the many local retailers and restaurants by shopping online, choosing local, ordering carryout from their favorite restaurant and taking virtual tours of well-know attractions around the state.