(Columbus)--Governor DeWine announced Monday his plan to re-open the state, as the number of new Coronavirus cases continues to slow. DeWine says medical facilities can begin to perform elective same day surgeries on Friday. On Monday, manufacturing, distribution, and construction companies can re-open, along with general office enviroments. Consumer retail & services will open on May 12th. All of the openings will have restrictions, including social distancing and required face masks. 
DeWine says beauty salons, sit-in restaurants, senior adult daycares and entertainment venues will stay closed for now. He did not give a date for their return, although many restaurant and beauty salon owners say the shutdown is coming close to driving them out of business.

For more information, you can visit Responsible Re-Start Ohio.  

(Photo Courtesy of Ohio Channel)

The Butler County General Health District has reported a fifth death from the Coronavirus in the county. According to a news release, the victim was a Fairfield woman in her 70's. She had previous health conditions, but it is not known how she contracted the disease. “Our hearts go out to the loved ones in their time of grief, and we send our deepest sympathies.” said Health Commissioner Jennifer Bailer. The death is the second straight woman from Fairfield to succumb to the disease. According to the latest figures, there are 244 total cases of COVID-19 in the county, with 5 deaths. The City of Hamilton reported five new cases, including a 29 year old man hospitalized in ICU. 

 

Hamilton City Council unanimously approved a ban on price gouging during their meeting Wednesday night. Under the ordinance, the rule becomes part of the city's business regulation code, and would make it a criminal offense for businesses to overcharge for items during a declared state of emergency. Price gouging would be considered a first degree misdemeanor under the ordinance. It would be enforced by the police department or health commissioner. City council members discussed using the MyHamilton 311 portal for citizens to report possible infractions. Mayor Pat Moeller says "price gouging is one of those things when you see it, you know it."

(Columbus)--The Ohio High School Athletic Association has made it official--the spring sports season is canceled. The decision was a given after Governor DeWine declared schools would remain closed through the end of the school year. The coaches no contact period remains in effect through May 3rd.

From the release:
 

In an interview Monday afternoon, Snodgrass reflected on the unprecedented times that the pandemic has brought to the nation and the impact it has had on schools and interscholastic athletics.  

“I’ve heard from so many people who have said ‘You really need to understand what this means to our kids,’” Snodgrass said during the interview. “I’m a parent. I was a coach. I grew up every day as a player and a coach wanting to play high school sports and get to the state tournament. So I do think I understand that. I also have to go with the fact that my number one concern that I have, over everything, is the health and safety of everyone involved. It’s not just our student-athletes. It’s the parents, coaches, umpires, officials, the scorekeepers. All those things enter into this. It’s a tough decision and it’s one that I and all the other Executive Directors of the other states never thought we would have to do. Never did I think this would be the case, but I’ve tried to be as prepared as I could every step of the way.”

Snodgrass also addressed the summer and start of fall sports in the interview. 

“July is a very physical month for our student-athletes entering fall sports, so we have already started looking at, if this continues through the summer, we’ll have the potential of having a lot of kids who haven’t had the physical activity that they would normally have going into a fall season. So for the health and safety of everyone, we have to look at the acclimation periods going into the fall, if that happens. We have to be prepared for that. We’re also talking about that, if this does go through the summer, what is the likelihood that a student can get in to get a physical (annual medical exam). We have a sport medicine advisory group that is looking at that. They are looking at all aspects such as whether artificial surfaces need to be treated. We are relying on the advice of experts in our decision making.

The OHSAA will continue to communicate throughout the spring and summer regarding any adjustments to OHSAA off-season regulations, academic eligibility standards, sports medicine updates and more. 

(Hamilton)--Butler County's unemployment rate increased in March as the DeWine shutdown was getting underway. The jobless rate for March was 4.7%, compared to 4.1% in February. Nine thousand Butler Countians were considered unemployed in March, a thousand more than February. The city of Fairfield lost 200 jobs and the cities of Hamilton and Middletown lost 100 jobs each.

(Hamilton)--The number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in Butler County stands at 169.  There have been at least 52 people hospitalized and the death toll remains at 3. Statewide, there are over 11, 292 cases, with 453 confirmed deaths and 2,565 hospitalizations. The City of Hamilton is reporting three new cases, including a 73 year old woman, and two males, aged 27 and 43. The City of Hamilton has had 23 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

HAMILTON--The Butler County Health Department says a third death has been linked to the Coronavirus in Butler County. Health Director Jennifer Bailer says it was a male in his 60's, who suffered from underlying health conditions. Family members are confirming it was Talawanda School District Treasurer Mike Davis, who passed away over the weekend. Butler County now has 130 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including a 35 year old male inmate at the Butler County Jail. Sheriff Richard Jones says the inmate and his cell mate were moved to the Court Street jail building, which was recently emptied and scrubbed clean for use by inmates who are confirmed with the virus. The cellmate did not have the virus. Statewide, the Department of Health says 7,153 Ohioans have been confirmed with Coronavirus, with 309 confirmed deaths. Around 2,156 patients have been hospitalized in Ohio.

(Photo: Mike Davis)

While the high school sports season is on hold, WMOH 1450 The Ticket presents "High School Game NIght Classic," a replay of big games from the past.

Wednesday, April 8th at 5:00pm, we will bring you the 2019 Division Two Regional Baseball Semi-Final between the Ross Rams and the Franklin Wildcats

Stay tuned for more encore presentations of high school sports with High School Game Night Classic, on WMOH 1450 The Ticket, and on WMOH.COM.