Offensive? Protection? DeWine can’t mask concerns over his policy

COLUMBUS — Days after the New York Times lauded Gov. Mike DeWine's "decisiveness," the governor is mired in a mess of his own making regarding the state's stance on wearing masks.

In explaining the reasoning behind his reversal on mask requirements from Monday to Tuesday, DeWine noted some Ohioans have a philosophical opposition to the government telling them what to do and thus found the requirement "offensive."

Consequently, DeWine took some heat on social media Tuesday night, appearing to cave to complaints rather than making a science-based policy decision.

One commenter noted on Facebook: "I'm very disappointed as a senior citizen. Every little bit of protection might help with the reopening of businesses. I was actually going to feel a little bit safer but not now! I think we're going to need all the help we can get. I used to respect DeWine but that went right out the window with this reversal."

Another objected to his choice of words: "Please explain, anyone, how wearing a mask is offensive? Uncomfortable maybe. Definitely hot and inconvenient. But offensive?"

But DeWine stuck to this line Wednesday.

"It was clear to me and should have been clear to me before I made the mandate that was just too far and there's a significant number of Ohioans who are offended by it, who thought this was government overreach," DeWine said.

During Wednesday's briefing, Ohio Public Radio reporter Andy Chow put it plainly, asking the governor how he weighs the backlash.

"I’ve heard from everybody it seems like about this," DeWine responded. "People feel very, very strongly about it, at least the ones I’ve heard from. This was not an easy decision. We want people to wear [masks] that can ... unless there’s a reason they can’t, we want them to wear the facial covering."

Ohioans have largely complied with state mandates, said DeWine. If the state loses Ohioans' willingness to do tough things in the interest of public health, "it will be a disaster," he said.

Ohio's mask guidance

During Wednesday's briefing, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted once again tried to clarify the state's position on mask-wearing.

Customers in Ohio should wear a mask, but are not required to do so, Husted said. Employees are required to wear face coverings except in the following situations:

• When employees are prohibited by law or regulation from wearing face-coverings on the job
• When it is a violation of the company's safety policy
• If the employee has a valid health reason
• If an employee is sitting alone in an enclosed workspace
• When there is a practical reason that a face covering cannot be worn, such as extreme heat

"We want you to comply because you care about each other," said Husted.

Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton supported that notion, saying it's more important that Ohioans change the culture.

"When I see you wearing this," Acton said, holding up a homemade mask, "you're really not just doing this for you. You're doing it for me. You might be doing it for my child who is immunocompromised. You might be doing it for my parent. And every time I see someone doing this, that's what I see. I see that sort of nod, that high-five to each other about what we are doing collectively."

However, DeWine said Tuesday that businesses can mandate mask-wearing for customers.

Mask requirements elsewhere

Ohio is not the only state grappling with this question.

Next door in Pennsylvania, the state department of health issued an order on April 19 requiring that employees of essential businesses wear masks. Customers are also required to wear masks on the premises of essential businesses.

"However, individuals who cannot wear a mask due to a medical condition (including children under the age of 2 years per CDC guidance) may enter the premises and are not required to provide documentation of such medical condition," the order states.

Effective May 1, residents of Illinois are required to wear masks in public where maintaining six feet of distance from others is not possible.

PPE shipment

The state is expected to receive "the largest one-time distribution of PPE" Ohio has ever seen, DeWine announced Wednesday.

Last week, 4.1 million pieces of PPE were shipped to Ohio, including:

• 500,000 N95 masks
• 850,000 face shields
• 750,000 surgical masks
• 2 million non-medical gloves

The shipment was a coordinated effort among state departments. The PPE will be distributed to long-term care facilities, jails and other congregate living spaces.

"It's not the first shipment but it's the largest one-time distribution of PPE, we think, in the state of Ohio," DeWine said. "It certainly wasn't easy. As you know, we're competing in a very volatile and different marketplace."

Graduations

In response to a question about graduation ceremonies Tuesday, DeWine said creative solutions that follow social distancing guidance — including the ban on gatherings of more than 10 people — are permissible.

The state issued more specific guidelines on its website regarding what kinds of celebrations are allowed.

Ideas include virtual graduation ceremonies and drive-thru graduations.

Locally, Campbell High School is planning a virtual commencement ceremony. Over several days, graduating students and up to four family members will be filmed as they cross the stage of the Campbell field house.

In her statement Wednesday, Health Director Amy Acton reminded graduating students of the importance of sacrificing events like graduation during the pandemic.

These creative solutions to commemorating milestones like graduations will be "a forever memory," Acton said.

"To those of you who are graduating this year, the class of 2020," said Acton. "when you have that five-year reunion and you're all together, you will be that class that actually lived through this together and have that memory."

Other coronavirus news

• According to the latest figures Wednesday from the Ohio Department of Health, the state is reporting 16,601 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. There have been 804 confirmed cases in Mahoning County; 305 in Trumbull County; and 247 in Columbiana County.

• Statewide, there have been 856 confirmed deaths, including 81 in Mahoning County; 30 in Trumbull; and 24 in Columbiana. Mahoning County's 81 reported COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday was the third-highest among Ohio's 88 counties; Lucas County had 114; Cuyahoga County reported 110 deaths.

• Gov. Mike DeWine announced $16 million in grants for law enforcement agencies through the federal CARES Act. The money is available to various criminal justice agencies, including victim services agencies and domestic violence shelters.

• According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday, there are 44,366 COVID-19 cases in the state which have led to 2,195 deaths. There are 64 cases in Lawrence County with 6 deaths; 65 cases in Mercer County with 1 death.

• Pennsylvania officials said hospitals can resume elective surgeries so long as facilities follow federal safety guidelines and can still respond to a surge in coronavirus patients should a localized outbreak occur.

• Catholic bishops in Ohio are extending the suspension of all publicly celebrated Masses through May 29. During that time, Diocese of Youngstown officials will work toward a return to Sunday Mass, the church said in a news release.

• Youngstown State University has formed five focus groups to address the university’s continued response to the coronavirus pandemic. The groups consist of more than 50 university administrators, staff, faculty and students.

This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 4:11 AM with the headline "Offensive? Protection? DeWine can’t mask concerns over his policy."