As Ohio coronavirus cases surge, Dewine unleashes ... a fireside chat
COLUMBUS — After Gov. Mike DeWine unceremoniously canceled Tuesday's coronavirus briefing and scheduled a rare evening speech for Wednesday, Ohioans expected a new pandemic-fighting tactic.
It led to a day-long guessing-game: Perhaps a mask mandate with enforcement? Or a rollback of the state's reopening, as seen in other states?
After all, each week of July has set a record for new coronavirus cases. Wednesday was Ohio's eighth straight day of more than 1,000 new cases, and Friday (July 10) saw the largest one-day increase in cases throughout the pandemic.
Instead, DeWine, seemingly in the guise of President Franklin Roosevelt during one of his fireside chats, again beseeched Ohioans to wear masks, regardless of where they live. And, no, the request was not a sneaky health order. Nothing new has been posted on the Ohio Department of Health website.
What's troubling to Mercy Health Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Jim Kravec is the consistent rise in hospitalizations.
On Wednesday, the state reported 160 new hospitalizations. That's the second-highest one-day increase after May 5, which saw an increase of 166.
Kravec focused on the importance of masking, social distancing and staying home as much as possible.
"Until that is done by more people, we're not going to stop the hospitalizations," he said.
Like many Ohioans, Kravec expected something with more teeth from DeWine Wednesday night. When asked whether DeWine should issue a mask mandate in response to the spike, Kravec said he "probably should."
"I've seen less mask-wearing in public lately," Kravec said.
On Wednesday, Alabama became the 25th state to require mask-wearing in public. Florida and Arizona, which are both experiencing surges, have not mandated masks. Retailers Walmart, Kohl's and Best Buy also announced Wednesday they would require customers to wear masks in their stores.
Ohio only mandates masks in 12 counties in Level 3 of the state's alert system.
During his address, DeWine in the same breath praised Ohioans for their actions early in the pandemic and warned that inaction now — as cases surge after reopening — could be catastrophic.
"We must act and we must act now," DeWine said. "This is not a drill. It's certainly not any hoax. This is not a dress rehearsal. The enemy is here, and Ohioans have simply come too far in this fight to cede ground now. You can do it again."
DeWine — at times quoting Ronald Reagan Abraham Lincoln and the Bible — called the present moment "a defining time" and conceded that Ohioans, including himself, have let their guards down.
Our fatigue is understandable, but "when we [let our guards down], we're literally playing a Russian roulette game with our own lives, our families and our neighbors."
Other coronavirus news:
• According to the latest figures Wednesday from the Ohio Department of Health, the state is reporting 65,287 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. There have been 2,007 confirmed cases in Mahoning County; 1,103 in Trumbull County; and 1,411 in Columbiana County.
• Statewide, there have been 2,819 confirmed deaths, including 239 in Mahoning County; 83 in Trumbull; and 60 in Columbiana. Mahoning County's 239 reported COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday was fourth among Ohio's 88 counties; Franklin County had the most with 449.
• In nearby counties: Stark, 1,252 cases and 116 deaths; Portage, 507 cases and 60 deaths; and Ashtabula, 452 cases and 44 deaths.
• According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday, there are 97,665 COVID-19 cases in the state which have led to 6,957 deaths. The state said the recovery rate is 76 percent. There have been 203 cases in Mercer County and 6 deaths; 207 cases in Lawrence County and 9 deaths.
• Pennsylvania health officials urged residents Monday to help break the cycle of COVID-19's pattern of infection after recording 7,000 new cases last week. Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said just about half of new cases have been diagnosed in adults aged 18-49. She urged Pennsylvanians to "wear a mask."
• The Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference — which includes Slippery Rock University — voted Wednesday to suspend all mandated conference athletic events and championships through the fall semester in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Program and Youngstown City Health District will offer drive-thru and walk-up COVID-19 testing from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday (July 17) at MYCAP, 1325 Fifth Ave., and Wick Park, 260 Park Ave. The Ohio National Guard will administer the tests, which anyone can get at no cost. Participants do not have to have symptoms to be tested, and preregistration is not required.
This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 3:52 AM with the headline "As Ohio coronavirus cases surge, Dewine unleashes ... a fireside chat."