Coronavirus News Roundup: Tuesday, March 10

Cases of the novel coronavirus –– or 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.

Here’s the latest from the region: 

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. 

Iowa

• There are now eight cases of the coronavirus in Iowa -- a sharp increase from last week.
• Reader Question: What counties in Iowa has the coronavirus been identified in?
• Answer from Iowa Public Radio reporter Natalie Krebs: “So far, seven in Johnson County and one 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 officials announced 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 are six cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky. 
• Gov. Andy Beshear waives coronavirus testing fees. 

Check back to Side Effects for frequent round-ups of coronavirus news from the Midwest. We also want to help you sort fact from fiction when it comes to coronavirus. Email health@wfyi.org or text “health” to 73224 with your questions, and we will search for the answers.

This is a rapidly evolving story, and we are working hard to bring you the most up-to-date information. However, we recommend checking the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most recent numbers of COVID-19 cases.