College students dispersed after spring break comes early

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

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CANCELLATIONS

Some 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 hundreds of students who gathered outside after next week’s spring break was moved up by three days. University spokesman Shawn Robinson said the gathering was not a protest. Ohio State also said it’s assessing events on a case-by-case basis, including the upcoming spring football game on April 11 that annually brings tens of thousands of fans to Ohio Stadium.

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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. In Cincinnati, Mayor John Cranley recommended the St. Patrick’s Day parade scheduled for Saturday be canceled. In Cuyahoga County, court officials announced plans to conduct as much court business by phone as possible to reduce crowds at the downtown Justice Center.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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This story has been corrected to show that the university says students gathered in Dayton after an announcement that spring break was starting early, not because they were angered by an announcement that university housing was shutting down.