DeWine orders "stay at home"

Ohioans, stay at home.

Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday issued a “stay at home” order for Ohio residents, effective midnight tonight.

Ohio residents should stay at home, DeWine said, except for essential activities, the latest step the state has taken in an effort to help slow the spread of coronavirus. The order runs through April 6.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb was set to address the state at noon today.

The most recent numbers available show that there are 259 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indiana with six deaths, including one in Delaware County. There are currently no confirmed cases in Jay County.

Ohio now has 351 confirmed cases with three deaths. There are currently no cases in Mercer County.

Officials in both states have said the numbers are likely much higher because testing is limited.

Ohio’s stay-at-home order includes exceptions for health and safety, necessary supplies and services, exercise, certain types of (essential) work and to take care of others. Essential businesses include healthcare, essential governmental functions and essential infrastructure. Shopping at grocery stores and picking up carryout food is still allowed.

DeWine’s full order is below and can be downloaded at bit.ly/Ohiostayathome.

Fort Recovery local schools put out new information following the announcement of DeWine’s order, indicating that the district would continue with its “emergency remote learning plan.” Under that plan, teachers are accessible to students through electronic means from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. daily. Most are teaching lessons using Google Classroom.

The most direct line of communication with school staff, which is working from home, is district email addresses. School phones are being used for voicemail only.

Jay County Clerk’s Office announced this morning that it is still open for “crucial business,” including to pay child support, file new protective order cases and apply for a marriage license, from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office door will be locked, but those who visit can call (260) 726-4951 when they arrive in order to be let in. (Payments can be made over the phone by calling the same number.)

The clerk’s office also advised that several tasks can be completed electronically:

•Make a payment — jaycounty.net

•Acquire paperwork to file a case — indianalegalhelp.org.

•E-file a new case — in.gov/judiciary/efile/tyler.html

•Update voter registration — indianavoters.com

John Jay Center for Learning has shut down its SkillsTrac training lab. Students in those classes can still work on Tooling U classes online.

Delaware County now has three confirmed cases of COVID-19, including one death. There is one confirmed case apiece in Adams and Wells counties.

While Indiana, as of this morning, had not issued a stay-at-home order, Delaware County Commissioners issued an emergency declaration requiring the closure of most businesses, except for those that are essential such as grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants. Henry County took a similar step.

Holcomb on Friday postponed Indiana’s May 5 primary election until June 2. The voter registration deadline and early voting start dates are also being moved back, with the state’s election division expected to announce those dates this week.

IU Health now has COVID-19 testing capabilities. Those who think they may need to be tested should first use IU Health’s free virtual clinic at iuhealthvideovisit.org or the IU Health Virtual Visits app. COVID-19 testing must be ordered by a physician.

Mercer County Health District has a COVID-19 call center available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily at (567) 890-2619. Mercer Health also has a COVID-19 drive-thru testing center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Mercer County Fairgrounds, 1001 W. Market St., Celina, Ohio. Those who think they may need to be tested must get an initial screening and an order for a test from a primary care physician before going to the drive-thru center.