Coronavirus in Ohio: State issues guidelines for college reopenings

Akron Beacon Journal - 7/9/2020

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday released the state's official guidance and announced special federal funding for private and public universities and colleges reopening this fall.

The minimum standards are designed to "continue to educate our students and prevent the spread of COVID-19," DeWine said.

The standards give campuses flexibility to meet local needs, but strict testing and isolation of students and staff members with virus symptoms are required. Each campus must designate housing to isolate students who may have the virus.

The Controlling Board -- a panel of lawmakers and a DeWine representative -- is being asked Monday to approve granting $200 million in federal CARES Act funds to public and private universities and colleges.

The funds would be used to help the reopening institutions deal with the increased costs of enacting coronavirus safeguards to help protect the health of students and staff.

"The bottom line is we intend these funds be used to prevent the spread of COVID-19," DeWine said. Another $190 million in federal funds also are reserved for Ohio colleges and universities.

DeWine's announcement came as Ohio reported 1,170 additional confirmed and probable cases Thursday, the fifth-highest daily case total, while hospitalizations of the ill totaled 81 and another 15 deaths were recorded.

Ohio's COVID-19 outbreak has accelerated in recent weeks, with infections since June 21 increasing by 36% through Wednesday while hospitalizations of the sickest Ohioans climbed by 18%.

The new numbers were lower than Wednesday's totals of 1,277 new cases -- the fourth-highest daily total of the pandemic -- 106 hospitalizations and 21 additional deaths. Cases and hospitalizations continue to run well above three-week averages.

In the four months since the virus surfaced in Ohio, the state now has recorded 61,351 total virus cases and 3,006 COVID-19 deaths.

Bruce Johnson, president of the Inter-University Council of Ohio, which represents the state's public universities, called DeWine's plan "a well-reasoned approach to safely opening higher education institutions to quality, in-person education this fall." Johnson added the money will help keep students and staff healthy when classes resume.

In a statement, University of Akron President Gary L. Miller thanked DeWine for "steadfast" leadership through the crisis.

"His common-sense approach to decision making throughout the pandemic has served as a model for leaders across the country.

The university also appreciates the announced funding allocation, Miller said, as costs associated with returning to on-campus classes this fall are "quite significant."

Many Ohio colleges have released their fall plans. Ohio State University, for example, is preparing for students to return to campus, but classes will combine both in-person and online methods. Many will be sending students home for the semester break before Thanksgiving.

The Controlling Board also is being asked on Monday to appropriate $100 million in funds to help public, private and charter K-12 schools cover the cost of coronavirus precautions as classrooms open and some distance learning continues. DeWine released the state's guidance for reopening schools last week.

Schools have another $440 million in federal funds saved for future coronavirus-related use.

Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union, welcomed the money.

"Going into this coming school year and having to deal with a lot of adjustments related to the coronavirus pandemic we need more resources then we've had in the past not fewer. We've been taking a lot of hits in terms of state budget cuts and local revenue losses on top of some fundamental problems ...," DiMauro said.

Meanwhile, virus cases and deaths continued to climb in Ohio's long-term-care facilities and nursing homes throughout last week.

Another 79 residents, many elderly and with chronic health conditions, died of COVID-19, bringing the statewide death total to 2,101, according to state Health Department data released Thursday.

Deaths in the facilities account for 70% of Ohio's COVID-19 death toll.

Dispatch Reporters Max Filby, Megan Henry, Jennifer Smola and Mark Williams contributed to this story.

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