Lorain police officer, Oberlin College food worker test positive for coronavirus

A Lorain police officer has tested positive for COVID-19, Chief Jim McCann confirmed Sunday. The name of the officer is not being released, per HIPAA guidelines, he said via email. "At this time, we do not know who or where he came into contact with the virus," he wrote. "The officer, like any other citizen has been put in quarantine as directed by the Lorain County Health District." That officer is one of three possible novel coronavirus cases in the county, according to Lorain County Public Health and the state. The third is at Oberlin College. In an email sent to staff and students late Sunday evening and shared with the Chronicle-Telegram, President Carmen Twillie Ambar confirmed a food service worker in Stevenson Hall tested positive for the virus. The employee last worked Wednesday and the hall will be sanitized as soon as possible. It will open only after consultation with Lorain County Public Health. Health Commissioner Dave Covell said as the situation continues to unfold, nurses from the county health department will continue to do trace backs, assessing for symptoms those who a positive test has come in contact with — no matter what line of work they are in. "Frankly we know that there's more than just two patients in our jurisdiction," he said. "So as this continues to unfold, we're going to continue to do that. But the biggest key is we have to assume that anybody that's showing these kinds of symptoms probably has it — they may not — but we should treat everybody the same way." He stressed that first responders, just like everyone else, have lives outside of work and could come in contact with the virus from anywhere in the community. "Cover your cough, wash your hands and stay home when you're sick and again, we'll do trace backs around any positives that come back," Covell said. In a further attempt to limit community spread, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Sunday afternoon all bars and restaurants in the state would close or limit themselves to take-out or delivery orders "indefinitely." Earlier that day he said it was possible schools would close for the rest of the academic year. Schools are currently closed through at least April 3. There are now 37 total cases split among 11 counties: • Belmont (2), • Butler (6), • Cuyahoga (14), • Franklin (3),• Lorain (3),• Lucas (1), • Medina (1),• Stark (3),• Summit (2), • Trumbull (2) • Tuscarawas (1). There are an additional 361 under investigation,meaning those who have been tested for the virus but results are still pending, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.