COLUMBUS — An Associated Press review of more than 20 states has found that before the coronavirus outbreak most had only a modest supply of N95 masks, gowns, gloves and other medical equipment.
In many cases, those supplies were well past their expiration dates — left over from the H1N1 influenza outbreak a decade ago.
Ohio began stockpiling after 9/11.
Department of Health spokeswoman Melanie Amato said Ohio stored the very few items it accumulated at National Guard hangars.
The state created its own Bureau of Public Health Emergency Preparedness at the Health Department in 2005. Many of those supplies were exhausted or expired when the new coronavirus hit.
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The CDC and the Ohio Department of Health are now recommending the use of cloth face coverings in public to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Read more about the CDC's recommendation here. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a face mask from common household materials, without having to know how to sew.
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Here is everything you need to know about testing for coronavirus in Ohio.
Here's a list of things in Northeast Ohio closed due to coronavirus concerns
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