COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mike DeWine's daily press briefing on Tuesday opened unlike any other before it, with the Ohio Governor, his wife Fran, and Lt. Governor Jon Husted undergoing coronavirus (COVID-19) tests.
The demonstration was meant to encourage coronavirus testing, which has become widely available across Ohio in recent weeks, with pop-up testing sites being created across the state. DeWine said that it's critical for Ohio to continue to assess where it's at in its fight with the coronavirus, especially in the weeks since the state began the process of reopening its economy in May.
During the demonstration, Mr. and Mrs. DeWine and Husted each underwent nasal swabs, which will then be taken to a lab. Results from the tests are expected within 24-48 hours.
As of Tuesday, Ohio has had 46,127 confirmed or probable coronavirus cases to date, with new cases having increased in each of the last three days prior to the 590 new cases that were reported on Tuesday. You can read more about Ohio's coronavirus cases and trends here.
With Ohio having seen an uptick in its recent coronavirus trends, DeWine said the state will continue to monitor its numbers moving forward. On Tuesday, DeWine also revealed new television ads that will air across the state in order to encourage physical distancing and safe practices.