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Gov. Mike DeWine: Ohio's coronavirus spike not due to increased testing

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said that the state's recent increase in positive coronavirus cases isn't completely due to an increase in testing.

On Thursday, Ohio saw its confirmed and probable coronavirus (COVID-19) cases increase by 892 -- the most new cases in a single day excluding a period in which the state was mass testing prisons.

But while Ohio has increased its testing, administering its most tests in a single day on Wednesday, DeWine said that's not the entire reason why the state is seeing its numbers increase.

Rather, other indicators such as a reduction in age of coronavirus patients and an increase in hospitalizations suggest that the virus is continuing to be spread through communities. In March, the average age of coronavirus patients in Ohio was 51-years-old. That average age has since decreased to 42, with almost 60 percent of cases being in the 20-49-year-old range.

"We have increased testing but no analyst that I have talked to believes that the total increase is due to that at all," DeWine said on Thursday.

In particular, Ohio has seen spikes in the Southwest portion of the state. Appearing via video, Dr. Richard P. Lofgren of UC Health said that the recent uptick in tests serves as a reminder of safety measures that need to be taken in order to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

"This virus continues to live in our communities, but we can safely live with it if we are vigilant and understand the importance of social distancing, universal use of masks, washing hands, and sanitizing," he said.

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