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Watch again: Gov. Mike DeWine holds news conference with latest on Ohio's response to coronavirus

There are more than 43,000 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ohio.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — This afternoon, Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted held a briefing at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus with the latest news about the response to COVID-19.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, there are more than 43,000 confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus in the state. More than 2,600 have died. On Thursday, it was revealed that were 700 new cases of coronavirus, the largest day-to-day spike since May 21.

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The increased number of day-to-day cases is mostly concentrated in Southwest Ohio, including Montgomery County (Dayton) and Hamilton County (Cincinnati). DeWine announced that the Ohio National Guard will be brought in to those affected counties to assist in increased testing. 

Husted announced that Phase II of the Responsible RestartOhio plan for sports activities will allow contact practice for all sports to resume on Monday, June 22.

"This means football, lacrosse, and other contact sports can resume scrimmages and full training regiments as long as safety protocols are observed," Husted explained. "Although June 22 is the day contact practice may begin, it will ultimately be up to local sports organizers and high school leaders on when is the best time to proceed."

RELATED: Ohio to reallow practice for all contact sports beginning June 22

Also from Thursday, Dr. Amy Edwards, a pediatric infectious disease doctor and associate medical director for infection control at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, provided information on an increase in the percentage of children testing positive for COVID-19 at Rainbow Babies.

"It's to be expected as the state opens that we're going to start to see more positive kids, but that rate has been going up, and it is something we're keeping our eye on. It hasn't gone up dramatically, about 5 - 6 percent or so, but it has been a steady increase, and it has not stopped increasing as of yet."

RELATED: Ohio seeing increase in youth coronavirus cases

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