5 things to know today about coronavirus: Face shields, Montgomery County prison population grows

Area school officials say summer band and sports practices have been good testing sessions for students learning safe practices they will soon need as classes begin opening for the new school year. Pictured are Mason High School band members wearing face shields during practice. (Provided Photo\Journal-News)

Area school officials say summer band and sports practices have been good testing sessions for students learning safe practices they will soon need as classes begin opening for the new school year. Pictured are Mason High School band members wearing face shields during practice. (Provided Photo\Journal-News)

Today is Sunday, August 16 and here are five things to know today about the coronavirus pandemic.

Face shields are not an appropriate substitute for face masks in schools, Ohio Department of Health says

The Ohio Department of Health is warning that face shields are not an appropriate for face masks in schools for most teachers and students when in-person classes resume.

Shields do not comply with Interim Director of Health Lance Himes’ order that requires facial coverings in K-12 schools, the Ohio Department of Health announced Saturday.

The population of Montgomery County Jail is growing despite coronavirus concerns

About 650 inmates are inside the jail now, lower by more than 200 inmates on average before COVID-19. However, that figure is higher than in March when there were about 450 inmates.

Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck said the number continues to creep upward.

Over 107,000 cases and 3,800 deaths have been reported in Ohio

There have been 107,674 cases and 3,824 deaths reported in Ohio as of Saturday, August 15, the Ohio Department of Health reported. A total of 1,117 new cases and 40 new deaths were reported today.

102,016 cases and 3,546 deaths are confirmed by the state. Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 12,210 people have been hospitalized and 2,767 have been admitted to an intensive care unit. 82 new hospitalizations and 12 ICU admissions were reported in the last 24 hours.

Local Walmarts extend open hours to 10 p.m.

On its corporate website, Walmart said that by Aug. 17, more than 4,000 of its stores will expand their closing time from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. A Walmart spokesperson told CNN Business that the additional hours would let customer spread out over a longer period of time.

According to Walmart’s store finder site, stores which are closing at 10 p.m. in our area include locations in Beavercreek, Bellefontaine, Eaton, Greenville, Huber Heights, Lebanon, Oxford, Piqua, Sidney, Springfield, Troy, Urbana, and Xenia.

A Cincinnati Reds player tested positive, two games are postponed

Major League Baseball postponed the Cincinnati Reds games against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on Saturday and Sunday after a Reds player tested positive for COVID-19.

Ken Rosenthal, of The Athletic, first reported the news of the positive test. Major League Baseball made an official announcement Saturday afternoon. According to Major League Baseball, the postponements will allow for more testing and contact tracing.

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