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COVID-19: The Latest

Trinity relaxing policy

STEUBENVILLE ­— Trinity Health System officials announced the hospital will ease visitor restrictions at its West campus effective immediately in accordance with guidance from Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health. The hospital will allow one visitor per patient per day as they expand the number of non-emergent and non-urgent procedures following a shutdown in those services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital adopted a zero-visitor policy in March. As restrictions are eased, hospital staff will continue to require screening at all entrances, and those who ...

Wellsburg Fourth of July events canceled

WELLSBURG — Citing concerns about public health, the volunteer group behind Wellsburg’s weeklong celebration of Independence Day has announced fireworks and other events won’t be held this year. Leaders of the Wellsburg 4th of July Committee said if conditions improve, a few live concerts and fireworks could be held later in the year. A letter to the public bearing the names of co-chairs Barb Yoder and Darin Pizer and treasurer Michelle Temple states, “It is with the heaviest of hearts that the Wellsburg 4th of July Committee announces that our 2020 festivities will be ...

Local grad on the COVID-19 frontlines

ONEONTA, N.Y. — Leah Figurski was fortunate to be formally hired for her first “adult” job just a few weeks before she finished graduate school at Seton Hill University. But, when your first job is in public health and a pandemic occurs, there’s not much of an adjustment ...

Automakers help restart U.S. industry

WARREN, Mich. (AP) — More than 130,000 autoworkers returned to factories across the U.S. for the first time in nearly two months Monday in one of the biggest steps yet to restart American industry, while an experimental vaccine against the coronavirus yielded encouraging results in a small and extremely early test. Stocks rallied on the vaccine news and signs that the worst of the crisis has passed in many countries. The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared about 900 points, or nearly 4 percent. In a surprise announcement, President Donald Trump said he’s been taking a malaria ...

DeWine: Have fun, but keep distance

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio will begin cracking down on social distancing at bars after photos showed plenty of customers standing and drinking on crowded patios during the first weekend restaurants and taverns were allowed to reopen, Gov. Mike DeWine said Monday. Police officers and health investigators will be making safety checks as part of beefed up enforcement teams, the governor said. Bar owners could wind up in court or lose their liquor licenses if they don’t take steps to control their customers, DeWine warned. Some places were “totally out of hand” with a lack of social ...

May 19: Events canceled, postponed

Due to the precautions being taken surrounding the coronavirus, the following changes have been made regarding events and meetings in the local area: ¯ The Franciscan University of Steubenville Women’s Scholarship Guild’s annual Spring Into Spring fundraising event that had been scheduled for today has been canceled. ¯ The Jefferson County Fair Board has canceled its Thursday meeting. Fair officials said they await word from Gov. Mike DeWine regarding county fairs during the pandemic. Anyone with questions may call (740) 733-8230. ¯ The Jefferson County Safety Council ...