Mike DeWine Updates Ohio on COVID-19 Testing, Reopening Ohio’s Economy
Mike DeWine's daily COVID-19 briefing will be starting at 2 pm. Tune into 89.7 to listen.
— David Williams (@DavidWKSU) May 4, 2020
Watch live here: https://t.co/pyUAF9OXZG
Gov. Mike DeWine began his daily coronavirus briefing Monday afternoon with a moment of silence honoring students who were killed and injured when National Guardsmen opened fire on student protesters at Kent State University on May 4, 1970. DeWine ordered the flag at the Ohio Statehouse to be flown at half-staff in honor of the four students slain.
Retail stores are still permitted to be open, provided they conduct business via curbside, delivery or appointments. DeWine said all retail stores will be open by May 12, but consistent with reopening of all businesses, they must provide their employees with adequate protection like facemasks, which all employees are required to wear while on the job unless they have a special exemption or are alone in an enclosed space. Compulsive sanitizing is also required. All manufacturing and construction businesses are open as of Monday, but must adhere to existing guidelines regarding face coverings and social distancing.
Dr. Amy Acton unveiled a new 21-day trend chart – previously only five-day charts were used at these briefings. Acton said this 3-week chart paints a clearer picture of confirmed cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
As of May 4, 2020 Ohio has 20,474 documented cases across all 88 counties. Hospitalizations make up 19% of cases, and healthcare workers make up 16%. 1.3% of Ohioans have been tested.
Acton applauded the work done by local health departments, saying that is where all the “real” work happens. “Any community place where there is an outbreak…will be treated as something we have to prioritize,” Acton said.
Last week Lt. Governor Jon Husted was pressed on addressing drivers license and registration expiration as the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles remains closed. On Monday, Husted said expiration dates will be suspended until the BMV is back up and running. Registration and license plate replacement is already available online, but other services will be put online soon, to avoid requiring people to wait long hours in crowded waiting rooms.
Daily testing has increased from about 3,000 per day at the end of March to over 6,000 per day at the end of last week. DeWine said the new overhaul in testing will increase that number up to 22,000 per day by the end of next week.
