COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted held a briefing on Thursday at the Ohio Statehouse with the latest on the response to COVID-19.
Here were some of the headlines from Thursday:
Advisory Level Update
The good news for Northeast Ohio is that Cuyahoga County has been downgraded from Level 3 (red) to Level 2 in the Ohio Public Health Advisory System.
Unfortunately, Lorain County has made the list for the first time. Also, Trumbull County is back at Level 3. Erie County remains at Level 3 status as well.
Response to Goodyear
As expected, DeWine was asked about President Trump's call to boycott Akron-based Goodyear during the question and answer part of the briefing.
"We should not boycott this good company with good Ohio workers who are doing a good job and making a good product," DeWine said when asked about Trump's statement.
Community Spread
DeWine cited several examples of how COVID-19 is spreading in Ohio counties during his Thursday press conference.
Citing the increased spread in rural counties, where mask wearing has not been going on as long as in urban counties, the Governor mentioned a Kent bar, a Jazzercise class and a sports team sleepover as spreading events.
Gov. DeWine did not name the Kent restaurant, but said that a bartender who had not been wearing a mask, and claimed a medical exemption, was later diagnosed with COVID-19, as were the bartender’s three roommates and boyfriend.
Adult Day Care and Senior Centers may reopen
Adult day care centers and senior centers may reopen beginning September 21. The centers, which have been closed since Mach 23, can reopen with reduced capacity and new safety standards.
The reopening order follows the recent allowance of limited visitation at nursing homes and assisted living centers in Ohio. Each center will have to follow a list of guidelines from the state, compiled in consultation with the Ohio Association of Senior Centers and national adult day care center advisors.
On Tuesday, DeWine announced that the state is moving forward with allowing sports to proceed this fall. You can read his order by clicking here.
The order provides that all sports, contact and non-contact, can go forth this fall. This includes sports from youth to professional ranks.
"We know that sports, particularly contact sports, contributes to the risk of the spread of COVID-19. On the other hand, we know that sports matters and makes a difference. It provides discipline, order, and structure to the lives of student athletes," DeWine said.
The governor acknowledged that several school districts, particularly in urban areas of the state, have postponed all fall sports due to concerns about coronavirus. DeWine stated that those districts will have the option to play their seasons in the spring.
In addition, DeWine mentioned that there will not be fans at events, outside of family members. “We will not have spectators other than family members or people very close to that child and we will of course, leave it up to the school to do that," the governor added.
You can watch Thursday's briefing in the player below