COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted held a briefing Tuesday at the Ohio Statehouse with the latest on the response to COVID-19.
Here were some of the important points brought up during the briefing:
Sports
DeWine spent several minutes clarifying the order that was issued last week, clearing the way for sports to get underway this fall.
The order limits the maximum number of spectators to the lesser of 1,500 individuals or 15% of fixed seated capacity for outdoor sports venues. For indoor sports venues, it is the lesser of either 300 individuals or 15% of fixed, seated capacity.
"The main purpose of permitting spectators at school sports events is for officials and family/household members and loved ones of players, coaches, team staff members, other event participants (like marching band and honor guard) for both home and away teams to attend," said DeWine. "Ideally, the spectator limit would enable at least two, and perhaps up to four, family members to attend a sports event, provided that the venue is large enough to allow at least six feet of social distancing between groups."
The governor did say that a variance provision in the order lets schools request a higher spectator limit by submitting a plan to their local health department and the Ohio Department of Health explaining why a different capacity is needed and how social distancing will be achieved.
In addition to his news about coronavirus, DeWine will almost assuredly be asked about the articles of impeachment that were filed against him on Monday by State Representative John Becker regarding the governor's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
Cuyahoga County's COVID numbers
After being downgraded from Level 3 (red) to Level 2 in the Ohio Public Health Advisory System last week, the news continues to be good for Cuyahoga County in terms of number of COVID-19 cases.
Diagnoses for the area continue to decline, with a two-week average of 79.3 new cases per 100,000 with 979 cases diagnosed from Aug. 11-24.
As of last Thursday when the county first dropped from "red" Level 3, the numbers were 93.52 cases per 100,000, with 1,155 new cases diagnosed over the previous two weeks.
Unemployment update
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.