Cases of the novel coronavirus, 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.
Get answers to commonly asked questions about the virus here. Here’s what we know about the latest from the region as of 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10:
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.
- There are now eight cases of the coronavirus in Iowa, a sharp increase from last week.
- Governor Kim Reynolds signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency on Monday, March 9, activating the disaster response and recovery aspects of the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s Iowa Emergency Response Plan.
- So far, seven of the cases in Iowa are in Johnson County and one is 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.
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As we continue our coverage of the spread of the novel coronavirus, we also want to help you sort fact from fiction. Email Side Effects Public Media or text “health” to 73224 with your questions.
This is a rapidly evolving story, and we are working hard to bring you the most up-to-date information. We also recommend checking the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most recent numbers of COVID-19 cases.