Governor DeWine revealed what Ohio’s new normal is going to look like when the state gets back to business. He detailed what will happen when people get back to work. We’ll also update you on the number of COVID-19 cases in the state and learn why you should assume that you and everyone you meet has Coronavirus.
Dr. Amy Acton said the state will not suddenly be wide open on May 1st. “We’re talking a lot about a phased approach. We are not going back to six months ago. These are unprecedented times. The virus is still here. It’s still a threat. It’s even a threat to businesses. We’ll all working together to inch our way forward on this new road that we’ll all be traveling together.”
We’ll break down the three important points.
COVID-19 Cases
- Cases Presumed – 9,107
- Cases Confirmed – 8, 858
- Deaths Presumed – 418
- Deaths Confirmed – 401
Hospitalizations – 2, 424 - ICU Admissions -740
- Scioto County – 5
- Prisons – 489
A total of 693 cases were added to the total in the past 24 hours. Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton said, “Do not be surprised as we extend our testing, we’ll start to see some of those numbers go up.” Only 29 of those cases were actually diagnosed in the past 24 hours.
Dr. Acton was surprised by being honored with the Spirit of Columbus Award.
Governor Mike DeWine said the award was “Going to someone who has shown extraordinary commitment, compassion, and courage in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.” He added, “We’re delighted to see that you won the award. It’s absolutely fantastic.
Acton said, “For young people out there watching this, each of this is a spark. On this journey, I’ve seen so many things made possible that were not possible before. I hope you’ll let those sparks of yourself continue to shine. It’s going to be our way. It’s going to be an Ohio way.
New Normal Basics
Governor Mike DeWine wanted to break down the basics of Ohio’s new normal.
“Let me try to recap a little bit. I thought the way I’d try to do it today as we look toward where we are going. What we hope this plan will be. It’s always good to get back to basics. We’re trying to get Ohioans back to work at the same time we’re trying to protect Ohioans. Those are not mutually exclusive.”
He said there are two goals:
- Protect employees
- Protect customers
“Everything kind of flows from there. Protecting people is also good business. No company is going to be able to attract employees if they don’t think it’s same. Same as true with customers.”
The Governor said a lot of it would be common sense. Here’s what Ohioans can expect to see at reopened businesses.
- Distancing. “There’s no substitute for distancing. Six feet is the norm. More is always better.”
- Workers wearing masks. It’s going to become very common.
- Barriers where barriers are appropriate.
- Surfaces sanitized quite frequently.
- Employees wearing gloves.
- Ample opportunity for everyone to wash and sanitize their hands.
- Staggered arrival and lunch for employees
- Employees who can work from home will
- Checking of employees’ temperatures
- A limit to the number of customers allowed in
Assume Everyone Has the Virus
“This virus will remain out there. Our life will be guided by that,” Governor DeWine said.
He said that there would be widespread testing. ” We’re going to be able to determine if people have had it. We have to assume that everyone we meet is carrying the virus. Many people are walking around among us and don’t know they are carrying it.”
DeWine said cited a case at an Ohio prison,” We’re doing a lot of testing in prisons. There’s one dorm where 152 people tested positive. Of that 152, sixty of them had no symptoms. It sort of tells you why we have to assume that everyone who is out there is positive. In some cases, they will never know until they have a test.”
Dr. Acton emphasized the importance of wearing masks. “Those masks and those social distancing, those are the ways that we are honoring each other. Any one of us could be carrying something we don’t know.”
Lt. Governor Jon Husted said, “Coronavirus is going to be with us for awhile. We need to learn to live with it safely. We can build confidence in knowledge. Whether it’s April the 17th, May the 1st, or June the 1st, Coronavirus is just as dangerous as it’s ever been. We do want to find that balance between lives and livelihoods.”
Acton said, “If you invented a virus that has the longest incubation period possible. It sheds everywhere. It’s asymptomatic.
Governor DeWine said the problem is that even though six of Ohio’s hospitals have the capability to do a lot of testing, there is a shortage of reagent chemicals for testing. “Until that supply increases, they’re held down..” He said shortages of tubes and swabs are also making testing difficult. “Today, I’m going to work on the reagent issue a little bit.”
