COLUMBUS, Ohio — On Thursday, Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted held a briefing with the latest information on the state of Ohio's response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Here were some of the important points brought up by DeWine in his last briefing on Thursday:
A new health director
“This unprecedented time calls for true leadership to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to save lives,” said DeWine. “We welcome Dr. Duwve to our team. Her clinical experience and leadership to strengthen public health infrastructure will help guide Ohio as we navigate through this pandemic and modernize Ohio’s public health system.”
Dr. Duwve is graduate of North Olmsted High School and attended undergraduate school at The Ohio State University. She received a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan and her Medical Doctor Degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Duwve takes over for Dr. Amy Acton, who resigned in June after taking over the job in February of 2019. Earlier this year, Acton became one of the faces of the state's coronavirus response, receiving praise both locally and nationally for her calm demeanor and measured approach, with a New York Times video column calling her "the leader we wish we all had."
Summit County back in red
DeWine revealed the state's latest Public Health Advisory System for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. And in doing so, he shared that after most recently being at Level 2 "orange," Summit County has returned to Level 3 "red."
"Summit Count is seeing, sadly, a sustained increase in emergency department visits for COVID-like illness. That is an early warning sign," DeWine said. "On August 20, the county had an average of five visits per day to the emergency department. That number increased to an average on nine visits per day by August 27. The county has also seen a sustained increase in hospitalizations. Admission numbers have increased from two admissions on August 22 to seven on August 29. Outbreaks have been associated with workplaces and a fraternal club."