Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton made waves on Wednesday when she revealed that the state's new modeling shows that its coronavirus (COVID-19) is projected to peak with 1,600 new daily cases, down from the previous projection of 10,000.
While many took that to mean Ohio's original projections model was wrong, Governor Mike DeWine said that's not necessarily the case.
Rather, DeWine explained that while the original model took into account Ohio practicing some level of physical distancing, it didn't take into account the sate following the guidelines as strictly as they have. Dating back to the discovery of the state's first positive coronavirus case on March 9, DeWine has taken several measures to encourage physical distancing, including a stay-at-home order that is currently in place until at least May 1.
Those measures -- and the fact that Ohioans have largely followed them -- have been the biggest factor in the decrease of the state's projected peak, according to DeWine.
"The initial modelers, they didn't think Ohio was going to do as good a job as we did," DeWine said. "We did a lot better. That's one reason why the model has changed so much."
Still, DeWine warned that while the state's outlook is now improved, that projection is predicated on Ohioans continuing to follow physical distancing guidelines as strictly as they have been previously.
"We've hit a home run. We've done a great job," DeWine said. "Is it time to celebrate? No. The game is not over."
As of Thursday, Ohio has had 5,512 confirmed coronavirus cases, 1,612 of which have resulted in hospitalization, 497 ICU admissions and 213 deaths.
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