CORONAVIRUS
The initial results were ‘presumptive positive,’ but the final results have not yet arrived.
TOLEDO, Ohio — Officials are investigating the first potential death due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ohio, Department of Health Director Amy Acton confirmed on Thursday.Lucas County Republican Party Chairman Mark Wagoner Jr. says his 76-year-old father Mark Sr. died in Maumee on Wednesday following a presumptive positive test of coronavirus. Dr. Acton said that she was aware of the report and that the investigation of his death would be over soon.
“This is real,” Acton said of the investigation. “It’s heartbreaking.”Local health officials have not yet verified that the elder Wagoner’s death was indeed due to COVID-19, and the final test results are still pending. However, Lucas County Health Commissioner Eric Zgodzinski says his department will now only be testing “essential personnel” (such as first responders and doctors) for the time being.”We do not have the number of tests we wish we had, and that is likely not going to change,” he said Thursday.As of Thursday, Ohio has found 119 positive coronavirus cases, 33 of which have required hospitalization. Those cases span 24 counties and an age range of 2-years-old to 91-years-old. The onset dates range from Feb. 7 to March 18.Ohio’s first three coronavirus cases were discovered in Cuyahoga County on March 9.RELATED: President Trump: FDA will fast track anti-viral treatments for coronavirus patientsRELATED: Coronavirus live updates: President Trump visits FEMA HQ; US says don’t travel abroadRELATED: State Department warns Americans against all international travelRELATED: Gov. Mike DeWine encourages Ohioians to fly flags as symbol of unity; show us your flag photosRELATED: Ohio Attorney General warns of coronavirus scamsRELATED: Ohio working on anti-price gouging law to help during coronavirus panicRELATED: Job openings in Northeast Ohio during the coronavirus outbreakRELATED: Congress urgently drafting $1 trillion economic rescue amid virusRELATED: VERIFY: Families with students can get free home internet if they didn’t have it before
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