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Akron’s Chapel Hill Mall is facing foreclosure due to more than $165,000 in unpaid taxes, according to Summit County officials. The county is still early in the process of foreclosure proceedings, said the county’s Chief Deputy Fiscal Officer Michael Migden. It could take eight to 12 months, and during that time, the owner will have an opportunity to pay off the debt. The foreclosure won’t impact mall businesses unless the owner fails to pay and no one bids on the property, Migden said.

So far, COVID-19 doesn’t seem to hit pregnant women any worse than anyone else, unlike with previous coronaviruses like SARS. Local researchers are trying to fill in the gaps when it comes to our knowledge of how COVID-19 infections affect pregnant women. “We don’t have quite enough data on how [the coronavirus] will affect pregnancy,” said Dr. Manesha Putra, an obstetrician at University Hospitals.

Cuyahoga County plans to postpone its plastic bag ban, citing the uncertainty businesses are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ban was set to go into effect July 1 this year. Now County Executive Armond Budish’s administration is asking council to move the enforcement date to Jan. 1, 2021. Democratic Councilwoman Sunny Simon, who led the push for the ban, released a statement Monday in support of the postponement.

Two hospital systems in Cleveland are offering alternative housing for employees who are working during the COVID-19 pandemic and are concerned about possibly exposing their families to the virus. University Hospitals is using a Case Western Reserve University residence hall to temporarily house workers. UH spokesperson George Stamatis said employees at UH Cleveland Medical Center are eligible to stay at the dorm for free for up to four days.

Cleveland’s COVID-19 rapid-response fund is already throwing a $1.2 million lifeline to groups offering immigrant and refugee aid, homeless assistance, food distribution and other services. Philanthropic and individual donors have raised more than $6 million to help Northeast Ohio nonprofits weather the coronavirus pandemic, according to a news release from the Cleveland Foundation.

Cleveland-area philanthropic groups have raised nearly $4 million for a COVID-19 rapid response fund. The fund initially will support nonprofits that offer safety-net services such as food pantries and housing assistance, according to a Wednesday news release. The aim is to assist vulnerable groups, such as low-income residents, the homeless and those at greater risk from coronavirus.

On top of battling the virus, those who test positive for COVID-19 say they're battling discrimination. "We know that people (who) have had this infection have been told to not come back to work," said Cuyahoga County Board of Health Medical Director Dr. Heidi Gullett who recounted hearing stories of discrimination against people with coronavirus and their families.

The Lorain County Court of Common Pleas is restricting access to the courthouse and speeding up arraignments and hearings to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The efforts started Wednesday with an order from Administrative Judge Raymond Ewers and will continue indefinitely.

Domestic violence advocates are concerned they will see an increase in abuse as people are forced to stay at home during the coronavirus outbreak. The Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center in Cleveland is keeping its helpline and shelter open. Advocates are still at work in Cuyahoga County municipal courts and therapists are meeting remotely with clients. According to Chief Executive Officer Melissa Graves, social isolation, economic uncertainty and the lack of an office or school to go to daily make ideal circumstances for abuse.

Leaders including President Trump are calling on companies to begin manufacturing medical supplies due to national shortages. One local company is switching gears from vodka to sanitizer. Western Reserve Distillers in Lakewood is now taking pre-orders for hand sanitizer from nursing homes, hospitals and the general public.