Coronavirus Surge: How Ohio, Midwest Neighbors Are Handling Spike

COLUMBUS, OH — In less than two weeks, Gov. Mike DeWine has instituted a curfew for all Ohioans, limited activity at weddings and funerals, and re-issued a stricter mask mandate.

The curfew will be in place for all Ohioans from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Thursday. The curfew will remain in place for at least 21 days, DeWine said. The governor said he hopes the curfew, coupled with the mask mandate, will help stymie the unprecedented spread of COVID-19 across the Buckeye State.

On Oct. 13, there were 1,000 people hospitalized because of COVID-19 in Ohio. By Nov. 5, 2,000 Ohioans were hospitalized because of COVID-19. A week later, on Nov. 12, 3,000 Ohioans were hospitalized because of the virus. The state is now approaching 4,000 active COVID-19 hospitalizations. Ohio confirmed 7,079 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.

A group of seven Midwestern governors, including DeWine, issued a plea to Americans to stay safe during the coming Thanksgiving holiday. Nearly all Midwestern states are in the midst of a COVID-19 surge.

But how do DeWine's actions compare to the COVID-19 containment actions of other Midwest states?

Michigan

Michigan is seeing a similar spike in cases — the state confirmed 7,458 cases on Tuesday — and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has responded by issuing mandates prohibiting, for three weeks, indoor social gatherings and other group activities.

Bars and restaurants will be open for outdoor dining, carry-out and delivery only. Gyms will remain open for individual exercise with strict safety measures in place. Casinos, movie theaters and group exercise classes will be closed.

Indoor residential gatherings are limited to two households at any one time, according to the order. MDHHS is urging families to only interact with one other household over the next three weeks.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is now seeing a nearly 10 percent positivity rate on COVID-19 tests and state leaders are preparing for a surge of patients in hospitals. There were 26,215 new cases of the virus in Pennsylvania over the past week, with several all-time records for the most cases in a single day of the pandemic.

State leaders recently re-issued the state's mask mandate, strengthening the order, so that masks are still required indoors and outdoors but now, when indoors, masks will be required anytime you are with people outside of your household, even when socially distanced. Masks are required inside every indoor facility, including gyms and public transportation.

Anyone who visits Pennsylvania must now get tested within 72 hours before entering the state. Those who do not have their test results upon coming to Pennsylvania or cannot get a test will need to quarantine for 14 days, Levine said.

Pennsylvania residents who are traveling must follow the same rules, with the exception of those who commute to work in an adjacent state.

Minnesota

From Saturday through Monday, Minnesota saw close to 24,000 cases of COVID-19 over a three-day period, with an average of about 8,000 each day. On Wednesday, state health officials reported nearly 5,102 new cases and a a record-breaking 67 deaths from the virus.

Gov. Tim Walz will reportedly use his emergency powers to close down restaurants, bars, and gyms. A week earlier, Walz announced additional restrictions and rules that apply to celebrations, receptions, bars, and restaurants, which have been identified as the most significant sources of COVID-19 outbreaks in the state.

And as of Monday, the state's top health officials have begun asking Minnesotans not to gather with other households for Thanksgiving or other social events this month, given the state's high rate of coronavirus infections.

Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported at least 7,090 positive coronavirus cases on Tuesday. However, while the virus spreads through the state Gov. Tony Evers has not yet issued any new mandates.

Evers' existing mask mandate for Wisconsin residents is being debated in the state Supreme Court. Under the original mask order, Wisconsin residents age 5 and older are required to wear a face mask when they are indoors or in an enclosed space, other than at a private residence, with anyone outside their family or living unit.

Evers has also announced in the coming days he will be introducing new coronavirus response legislation to provide more support for Wisconsinites.

Illinois

State health officials on Tuesday reported 12,601 new cases of the coronavirus and 97 more deaths. As of the most current data, the state is seeing an average of more than 5,200 residents fighting COVID-19 in hospitals. Hospitalizations have increased 70 percent in the past two weeks alone, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

State health officials have asked residents to "stay at home as much as possible" over the next three weeks, but stopped short of issuing any orders to that effect. However, the state's Tier 3 mitigation efforts will go into effect Friday — pausing high school sports, reducing retail store capacity, and limiting the operating hours of bars and restaurants.