Ohio Governor Mike DeWine had a strong message for Ohioans in his unusual 5:30 pm address to the state on Wednesday. “Ohio is sliding down a dangerous path. Our once-flattened curve is starting to sharpen. this is a jarring reminder of how quickly our fate can change. Weeks can be the difference between who lives and who dies. We must act and we must act now.”
There have been a total of 69, 311 cases of COVID-19 in Ohio with 1,316 reported in the past 24 hours. The Governor said that 1,027 Ohioans were currently hospitalized with the disease. Scioto County has reported 85 cases of COVID-19.
“The virus is spreading with a vengeance across Ohio. Tragically, in just four months, 3,075 Ohioans have died of this dreaded disease, nearly the same number that died in Vietnam.” Here’s the breakdown in 3 easy slides.
No New Orders
DeWine didn’t issue any new health orders during the address. “What your local health department or the Ohio Department of Health or what I order is not nearly as important as what we all do in these crucial days ahead. Our future lies in our own hands.”
While Governor DeWine issued no new orders, he strongly implied that if the rise in COVID-19 cases continues, Ohio will shut down again. “I’m asking each of you to take action now. To sacrifice now so that our kids can be in school this fall. So they can at least have a chance to play sports. So that businesses can stay open and Ohioans can continue to earn a living.”
Not A Hoax
The Governor pleaded with Ohioans to take the situation seriously before cases spiral out of control. Sounding a bit like a frustrated father threatening to turn the car around, DeWine said, “We must act and we must act now. My friends, this is not a drill. This is certainly not a hoax. This is the real thing. The enemy is here. My fellow Ohioans, you have changed history with this virus before, you can do it again. I’m afraid our window of opportunity is closing. As we have seen in Florida, Arizona, and Texas, once things start moving downhill, they start moving quickly. We have the power to change the future. This is a defining time.”
Please Wear A Mask
The Governor had one specific request for Ohioans. “I’m asking each one of you, wherever you live in Ohio, no matter the alert color of your county, wear a mask when you go out in public. I know some of you question wearing masks. The jury is back. the verdict is in.
He cited a report from the CDC that said if Americans consistently wore masks for six weeks, they could get COVID-19 numbers under control.
DeWine added that masks alone are not enough. “Let’s be honest. All of us have started to let our guard down. I know I have. We want to go back to the way things were. I know I do. Good decisions will protect the economy and save lives. Will that family reunion be worth it if our grandmother tests positive for COVID and dies? Will that play date be worth it if kids can’t go back to school in the fall. What’s better, knowing you’re doing all you can to keep family and friends safe or taking risks that lead to an economic shutdown.”
