4 More Ohioans Die From Coronavirus; Deaths At 29

Scott Anderson
Updated ·2 min read

This article originally appeared on the Columbus Patch

COLUMBUS, OH — Four more Ohioans died due to complications from the coronavirus overnight into Sunday. There have now been 29 deaths in Ohio due to COVID-19.

The state now has 1,653 confirmed cases of the virus — an increase of 247 cases from 24 hours prior. More than 400 people have been hospitalized due to COVID-19, and 139 Ohioans are in intensive care because of the virus. Cuyahoga County leads the state in confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 440 residents infected since the outbreak began.

Six people died between Friday and Saturday afternoon, the state health department announced.

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Gov. Talked To Trump About Masks

In a press conference held Sunday afternoon, DeWine told reporters that federal officials have promised to loosen restrictions on Ohio-based tech company Battelle's newfound ability to sterilize face masks so they can be re-used and deployed to frontline health care workers.

Earlier Sunday, DeWine blasted the FDA for allowing Battelle to sterilize 10,000 masks a day, when the governor said the company had the capability to sterilize up to 160,000 of them daily.

"We have nurses, doctors, and others who need these masks. We would be able to sterilize 160,000 per day. This is a matter of life and death. We need to protect or people who are risking their lives," DeWine said in a Saturday press conference pleading with the FDA to approve the mass-sterilization effort.

DeWine said he spoke with President Donald Trump directly about the issue Sunday, and said he received assurances from the president that something could be done.

"I have just talked with @realDonaldTrump about this issue, and we had a good conversation. He understands the problem and says he will do everything he can to get this approved today. Thank you @POTUS," DeWine posted on Twitter.

Case County by County as of 3-29-2020

440 — Cuyahoga
247 — Franklin
99 — Summit
94 — Lucas
85 — Hamilton
84 — Mahoning
74 — Lorain
45 — Medina
43 — Miami
36 — Trumbull
35 — Lake
31 — Delaware
29 — Stark
27 — Portage
27 — Butler
25 — Montgomery
20 — Warren
17 — Geauga
15 — Licking
14 — Fairfield
12 — Wood
11 — Columbriana
8 — Clermont
8 — Belmont
7 — Clark
6 — Marion
6 — Ashtabula
5 — Tuscarawas
5 — Richland
5 — Jefferson
5 — Erie
5 — Defiance
4 — Wayne
4 — Pickaway
4 — Madison
4 — Coshocton
4 — Carroll
4 — Allen
3 — Washington
3 — Union
3 — Shelby
3 — Sandusky
3 — Logal
3 — Knox
3 — Huron
3 — Hancock
3 — Greene
3 — Darke
3 — CLinton
3 — Athens
2 — Muskingum
2 — Mercer
2 — Fulton
2 — Crawfor
2 — Champaign
2 — Auglaize
2 — Ashland
1 — Wyandot
1 — Van Wert
1 — Seneca
1 — Pike
1 — Ottawa
1 — Lawrence
1 — Highland
1 — Gallia
1 — Fayette