Mike DeWine says Ohioans are getting the job done when it comes to fighting Coronavirus. He explains why we’re beating original virus predictions and how Ohioans are stepping up to help. Meanwhile, unemployment numbers are skyrocketing. But leaders are promising there’s a way out of this mess. Keep reading for all the important points from today’s COVID-19 update
Ohio COVID-19 Numbers
- Cases : 5,512
- Deaths 213
- Hospitalizations 1,612
- ICU admissions 497
- Counties – 84 out of 88
“Dr. Amy Acton warned that the numbers are misleading because of the shortage of testing.
“It’s a long incubation period. What we will see instead of an overall spike is smaller spikes all over the state in high-risk areas. We want to be able to nip those in the bud when they happen.”
We’ve Hit A Home Run
DeWine said Ohioans have succeeded flattening the curve and that’s good news.
“What we have tried to do each and every day is to tell you what we know and when we know it and get it out to you as quickly as we can. We’ve had some questions. You’re seeing that some of these estimates are changing. They are getting certainly better. We say that knowing that we have Ohioans dying every day. Why are we where we are?”
He said that things are not as bad as originally predicted and explained why. The answer lies with each and every one of you. Ohioans have made a difference. We’ve made a huge difference. It’s not about the orders we issue, it’s about what each and every one of you do and do not done. By in large Ohioans are doing a bang up job. We’re Ohioans we get the job done.”
He said our willingness to comply with social distancing has thrown off original models.
“The modelers didn’t think we’d do as good a job as we did. We did a lot better. We’ve hit a home run. We’ve done a great job. Is it time to celebrate? No, the game is not over. If we let up, that will not continue.”
Ohio Innovation
DeWine said the state was doing whatever it takes to get enough PPE for front line workers. “We’re gonna buy it. If we can’t buy it, we’re figuring out how rework our manufacturing supply chain to make it.”
19 manufacturers have partnered with three hospital groups to begin large scale production of face shields for Ohio.
They moved from prototype to production in less than two weeks. Manufacturers can make between 750,000 and 1 million face shields over the next 5 weeks to be distributed throughout the state of Ohio.
“Ohio’s innovative spirit is shining through to protect our protectors,” DeWine said.
Husted said another Ohio company had developed a plasma protocol for treating high-risk COVID-19 patients.
“We’ve been able to get this in front of the FDA and we got work that they now have approval for this plasma protocol to go statewide. Thank you to Ohio’s medical innovators and to the FDA.”
Exit Strategy
Over 200,000 Ohioans have filed for unemployment due to COVID-19 this week. Close to 700,000 Ohioans have filed overall. Six million Americans have been put out of work by the virus.
Protesters gathered at the Statehouse in Columbus to protest the continued shutdown of businesses.
Governor DeWine said his team was working just as hard on getting out of lockdown as it did in enforcing social distancing. “We’re working on a fairly sophisticated plan. Next week, we’ll lay out how we’ll get out of this. We’re working just as hard on how we come back from this.”
Dr. Amy Acton acknowledged that there were protesters outside the Statehouse.
“This is a hard mountain to climb everybody. It is an arduous climb up this mountain and we’ve done it together. It’s a hard trip on descent to. It’s a mountain range. We are climbing and reaching the peak of a mountain here in Ohio. We hope to be one of the most assertive states in recovery and getting back down that mountain.”
DeWine said. “I’m asking Ohioans to hang in there. I’ve likened this to a monster. It’s on the floor but it’s still claiming lives. We can’t let it up. We can’t feed it. I don’t like this better than anybody else likes it. We’re not going to keep this on one day longer than we have to.”
