Ohios hospitals saw highest number of COVID-19 patients this week since pandemic began – WLWT Cincinnati

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>> GOOD AFTERNOON. WE START WITH SOME HAPPY NEWS. JEFF REDDICK AND HIS WIFE LINDSAY WELCOMED BABY FRANCIS INTO THE WORLD THURSDAY, JULY 9. CONGRATULATIONS. FRANCIS WAS BORN AT 4:57 P.M. THURSDAY, JULY 9. TODAY IS JEFF’S FIRST DAY BACK TO THE BRIEFING. JEFF, WELCOME BACK AND CONGRATULATIONS. I’M WEARING A TIE TODAY FROM SOUTHERN STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE. FOUR CAMPUSES — HILLSBOROUGH, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE AND WILMINGTON. TO ALL THOSE THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM SOUTHERN STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR ANYONE ELSE THAT WORKS THERE, CONGRATULATIONS. GREAT WORK THAT YOU WILL DO. YESTERDAY, OUR DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION AND CORRECTION DIRECTOR ANNOUNCED THAT HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. DIRECTOR CHAMBERS-SMITH WAS TESTED ON FRIDAY, JULY 24 AFTER SHE BEGAN NOT FEELING VERY WELL. SHE RECEIVED HER POSITIVE TEST RESULT YESTERDAY AND SHE CALLED ME RIGHT AFTER THAT. CONTACT TRACIN, THE NORMAL CONTACT TRACING HAS BEGUN FOR STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE AND MAY HAVE COME IN RECENT CONTACT WITH THE DIRECTOR. DIRECTOR SMITH, CHAMBERS-SMITH HAS NOT PHYSICALLY BEEN INSIDE A PRISON SINCE JUNE 26 AND HAS NOT BEEN AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE SINCE LAST TUESDAY, JULY 21. SHE’S CURRENTLY WORKING FROM HOME WHERE SHE CALLED ME, MANAGING HER SYMPTOMS, WHICH AT THIS POINT ARE MILD. WE WISH HER CERTAINLY ALL THE BEST. IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, WE HAVE HAD SOME OF OUR FRIENDS WHO HAVE COME DOWN WITH COVID-19. AS I SAID LAST WEEK, ONE OF OUR FRIENDS, PAT FLANAGAN, DIED FROM THAT. TODAY, WE LEARNED ANOTHER FRIEND HAS COVID. WE WISH HIM ALL THE BEST. I WON’T SAY HIS NAME BUT WE WISH HIM ALL THE BEST. LET’S GO, ERIC, LET’S LOOK AT THE SLIDES IF WE CAN. SO, WE LOOK AT THE CASE NUMBERS ARE HOVERING AROUND 1400, 1500. AS YOU CAN SEE BELOW THAT, TRAGICALLY, THE DEATHS WERE 38 IN THE LAST 24 HOURS THAT WERE REPORTED. HIGHER THAN THE 21 DAY AVERAGE. NEW HOSPITALIZATIONS, 140. THAT IS HIGHER THAN THE 21 DAY AVERAGE. ICU ADMISSIONS IS UP. LET’S LOOK AT THE CURRENT NUMBER WHO ARE IN THE HOSPITAL. LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES THAT ARE CURRENTLY HOSPITALIZED IN OHIO, WE CONTINUE TO SEE A CONSISTENT INCREASE AS OF TODAY. 1144 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CURRENTLY HOSPITALIZED COMPARED TO 1024 ON JULY 15. SO THOSE NUMBERS ARE NOT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR US. LET’S LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS SOME GOOD NEWS. THIS IS GOOD NEWS AND WE HOPE THIS TREND CONTINUES. THIS CHART SHOWS THE TREND IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS. AS YOU RECALL, THIS IS AN EARLY WARNING INDICATOR. IT WENT UP FOR SOME TIME AND NOW STARTING TO GO DOWN. WE JUST HOPE THAT CONTINUES. THIS IS DISPLAYED AS A SEVEN DAY MOVING AVERAGE AND IT’S ALSO BEHIND. I WOULD EMPHASIZE THIS — THE NUMBER OF COVID RELATED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS INCREASED IN LATE MARCH THROUGH EARLY MAY. IT STEADILY DECLINED AROUND JUNE 11. WE THEN HAD A STEADY INCREASE FOR ABOUT ONE MONTH WITH A PEAK AROUND JULY 12. GOOD NEWS IS WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A DECREASE IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS IN RECENT DAYS AND WE HOPE THAT KEEPS UP. AGAIN, THESE ARE DELAYED NUMBERS. WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE THEM START DOWN. LET ME TALK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT MAYBE WHERE WE ARE AND IT’S ALWAYS TOUGH TO TELL EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE. WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE BELIEVE WE HAVE STARTED TO SEE A PLATEAU AND SOME OF THESE NUMBERS. CERTAINLY IN NOT ALL THE NUMBERS. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE CASES, THEY HAVE PLATEAUED OUT FOR A WHILE. WE SAW SOME INCREASE ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. BACK DOWN AGAIN A LITTLE BIT. BUT THIS EARLY WARNING ONE THAT WE HAVE APPEAR IS A GOOD SIGN. WE ARE HAPPY, HAPPY TO SEE THAT. I WILL COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER. LET’S TURN NOW TO THE AFFAIRS. I WANT TO TALK ARE FARES — OUR FAIRS. WE HAVE GREAT FAIRS IN THE STATE OF OHIO. INDEPENDENT FAIRS, COUNTY FAIRS. OUR GOAL THIS SUMMER WAS DESPITE THESE FAIRS. OUR GOAL WAS TO FOCUS ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, THE ESSENCE OF COUNTY FAIRS IS REALLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE IN 4-H, FFA. YOUNG KIDS WERE COMPETING, NOT JUST THOSE WHO RAISE LAND, STEER, CHICKENS OR GOATS, BUT ALSO THOSE WHO MIGHT TAKE A PROJECT OF ROCKETS, A PROJECT IN WELDING. I KNOW A YOUNG LADY WHO A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, THAT IS HOW SHE GOT INTERESTED IN WELDING. WE GOT KIDS — ALL KINDS OF PROJECTS. OUR GOAL WAS TO PRESERVE THE COUNTY FAIRS FOR THAT PURPOSE. THE ESSENCE OF THE FAIR. TO DO THAT, WE ASK THE FAIRS TO DISCOURAGE CONGREGATION OF LARGE GATHERINGS, GATHERINGS OF PEOPLE ON THE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS. WE LAID DOWN SOME GUIDELINES, VERY SPECIFIC GUIDELINES IN REGARD TO HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN BE IN THE GRANDSTAND, AS FAR AS THE DISTANCING THAT IS TAKING PLACE. FACIAL COVERINGS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WERE REQUIRED. SOCIAL DISTANCING. THE SHOW RING, GRANDSTAND THERE, BUT IN THE BARNS, WHETHER SHOWS OCCUR, WE ASKED PEOPLE TO BE RESPECTFUL I LET THE FAMILY MEMBERS COME IN AND WATCH THE SHOW SO PEOPLE WILL NOT BE SO CROWDED TOGETHER. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WORKING WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WE PROVIDED EACH FARE $50,000 TO BE ABLE TO PUT ON THE FAIR. THE IDEA WAS THAT WOULD HELP THEM PUT ON A MUCH SAFER FAIR. WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE FAIRS. WE HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. OF THE FAIRS HAVE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB. THEY WORK VERY HARD. BUT AT THIS POINT, AS WE START TO HEAD INTO THE BUSIEST PART OF THE YEAR, THE SUMMER WITH THE COUNTY FAIRS, IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT WE CANNOT HAVE A REGULAR SAFE FAIR AND THE OHIO SUMMER, THE COVID SUMMER OF 2020. WE SIMPLY CANNOT DO THAT. THEREFORE, WE WILL BE MAKING THE ORDER THAT WILL TAKE ALL FAIRS GOING FORWARD TO JUNIOR FAIRS. I WANT TO SAY AGAIN, WE ARE SEEING SOME FAIRS THAT HAVE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB. UNION COUNTY HAS A JUNIOR FAIR. SOME COUNTIES ELECTED TO DO A JUNIOR FAIR, OTHERS DECIDED TO DO ALL FAIRS. UNION COUNTY IS WORKING VERY HARD, TAKING A LOT OF GOOD SAFETY MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THEIR PARTICULAR FAIR IS SAFE. CLARK COUNTY, THE JUDGES ARE REINFORCING BY WEARING MASKS AND TALK ABOUT MASKS, THEY ARE REINFORCING THE IMPORTANCE OF MASKS. THERE IS GOOD THINGS GOING ON OUT THERE, YET WE HAVE SEEN OUTBREAKS CONNECTED WITH FAIRS. WE HAVE SEEN A LACK OF DISTANCING. WE HAVE SEEN EVEN AFTER THE MASS QUARTER WAS PUT ON — MASK ORDER WAS PUT ON, WE HAVE SEEN FAIRS THAT CLEARLY WERE NOT ENFORCING ANY KIND OF MASK ORDER AT ALL. THERE HAVE BEEN PICTURES IN THE PAPER, PICTURES UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THAT IS JUST A REAL SHAME. IT IS A REAL SHAME. IT IS CLEAR THAT WE CANNOT HAVE FAIRS THAT ARE SAFE, FULL FAIRS. WE WILL PRESERVE THE FAIR, THE JUNIOR FAIRS, LIVESTOCK, PHOTOGRAPHY, ROCKETS. WHATEVER. BUT GOING FORWARD, NO GRANDSTAND EVENTS, NO RIDES, NO GAMES, NO CARNIVAL. THEN A CURFEW WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A SHOW THAT MICHAEL LATER THAN THAT OR REASON TO BE ON THE FAIRGROUNDS AT 10 P.M. ALL FAIRS THAT WILL BE STARTING ON JULY 31 AND AFTER, ALL FAIRS STARTING ON JULY 31 AND AFTER WILL BE A JUNIOR FAIR. I THINK WE HAVE PRESERVED THE ESSENCE OF THE FAIRS BUT I’M SORRY THAT THIS DID NOT WORK. WE KNOW THAT ONE FAIR HAD 19 PEOPLE WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID. THESE PEOPLE HAVE ALL BEEN TO THE COUNTY FAIR. THREE OTHERS WHO TESTED POSITIVE HAD BEEN AROUND SOMEBODY WHO HAD BEEN AT THE FAIR. WE’VE HAD AN OUTBREAK WITH CONNECTIONS TO ANOTHER FAIR WITH A COUPLE OF CONFIRMED CASES. ONE PROBABLE, SEVERAL OTHER CASES UNDER INVESTIGATION. I GUESS MY SUMMATION IS THAT WHAT WE DO THAT ARE COUNTY FAIRS AND WHAT WE DO ALL SUMMER AND EVERYTHING WE DO IS REALLY GOING TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. IT IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR FALL IS LIKE. IT IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OUR KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL, HOW THEY GO BACK TO SCHOOL. THE QUESTION IS HOW THEY GO BACK TO SCHOOL. IT IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER WE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW THE ECONOMY AND JOBS. I THINK IN LIFE, WE ALWAYS SET PRIORITIES AND WE DECIDE WHAT IS IMPORTANT. WITH SOME GOOD NEWS. THE ONE CHART I SHOWED IT WE LOOK FORWARD. WE HAVE NOW HAD A FEW WEEKS, A COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH THE MASS QUARTER ON AND WE ARE STARTING TO SEE PARTICULARLY IN THE RED COUNTIES WHERE THE MASK ORDER HAS BEEN ON LONGER. WE ARE SEEING A LOT MORE PEOPLE WEARING MASKS BY A BIG LEAP. MY MESSAGE AND MY PLEA TO EVERYONE GOING FORWARD IS IF YOU LIVE IN A YELLOW COUNTY OR IN ORANGE COUNTY, WHAT YOU DO IS WE MOVE FORWARD THAT — IS GOING TO DETERMINE HOW SCHOOL OPENS. WHETHER SCHOOL WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE. IT WILL DETERMINE OUR ABILITY TO GROW THE ECONOMY. THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS AND I WOULD JUST ASK EVERYONE IN THE YELLOW COUNTIES, ORANGE COUNTIES, START USING THOSE MASKS MORE. THAT IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE GET 80%, 90%, WE WILL KNOCK THIS VIRUS IN THE HEAD. IT WILL BE A LOT BETTER IF WE MOVE FORWARD. CONCERNED ABOUT PLAYING FOOTBALL AND CROSS-COUNTRY, TENNIS, WHATEVER THEY LIKE TO DO, ALL OF THE THINGS WE WANT OUR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO DO IN OUR GRANDKIDS TO BE ABLE TO DO, WHAT WE DO NOW IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE KIDS ARE ABLE TO DO THAT. WE ASK EVERYBODY TO KEEP THE MASK ON WHEN YOU ARE OUT IN PUBLIC AND WE CAN MAKE SOME PROGRESS THEN CONTINUE TO MAKE THE PROGRESS. ONE OF THE THINGS I TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK IS WE ARE NOW ASKING OUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO GIVE US STORIES TO REALLY EXPLAIN HOW PEOPLE GET INFECTED BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THAT STORIES ARE CONSTRUCTIVE. I THINK THIS A NATURAL TENDENCY WE ALL HAVE, MYSELF INCLUDED THAT IF WE ARE AROUND FAMILY, WE ARE AROUND FRIENDS, WE WILL NOT BE LIKELY TO WEAR A MASK, NOT LIKELY TO KEEP SOCIAL DISTANCE. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS A LOT OF CASUAL EVENTS IN OUR LIVES WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT CAREFUL, THEY DON’T WEAR A MASK, DON’T SOCIAL DISTANCE AND CAN LEAD TO A LOT OF OUTBREAK. A COUPLE OF STORIES. THIS BEGAN ON A 40 MINUTE RIDE FROM ONE COUNTY IN OHIO TO A LAKE AND THIS WAS ON THE FOURTH OF JULY. FOUR PEOPLE RODE TOGETHER IN A CAR TO THE LAKE. DAD, MOM, ADULT DAUGHTER AND FAMILY FRIEND THE FAMILY FRIEND HAD THE VIRUS BUT DID NOT KNOW IT. THE FAMILY FRIEND ENDED UP INFECTING THE DAD WHO ENDED UP IN THE ICU. THIS DAD HAS A BUSINESS THAT HAD TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE. TWO OF HIS EMPLOYEES TESTED POSITIVE. THEIR DAUGHTER ALSO GOT SICK. SHE GOT MILD SYMPTOMS. SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING HIRED FOR HER FIRST TEACHING JOB. NOW THAT PROCESS IS DELAYED BECAUSE SHE HAS TO HAVE TWO NEGATIVE CORONAVIRUS TEST FOR THE PROCESS TO MOVE FORWARD. LUCKILY, THE MOM DID NOT GET SICK. THE REACH OF COVID-19 DID NOT STOP WITH THAT IMMEDIATE FAMILY. THE MOM’S MOTHER, IN HER 90’S, AND TO CAREGIVERS — EXCUSE ME, THE MOM’S MOTHER WAS IN HER 90’S AND HAS TWO CAREGIVERS THAT HAS BEEN AROUND THE FAMILY AND THEY BOTH TESTED POSITIVE. ONE OF THOSE CAREGIVERS ENDED UP IN THE ICU. A DIFFERENT PATIENT, ALSO IN HER 90’S, ALSO GOT SICK. IT JUST GOES ON AND ON. AFTER TESTING POSITIVE, THE FAMILY FRIENDS EMPLOYER HAD TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE AND SO THE OTHER STYLIST COULD QUARANTINE. SINCE THEY WERE THERE MASK, NONE OF THEM GOT SICK. THE FAMILY FRIEND PASSED TO THE VIRUS ONTO HER HUSBAND, HIS BUSINESS HAD TO TEMPER GIRL HE CLOSED WHILE HIS EMPLOYEES QUARANTINED. ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES WAS GETTING MARRIED AND FOUND OUT ON HER WEDDING DAY SHE WOULD NEED TO QUARANTINE. A DIFFERENT EMPLOYEE HE WAS ON VACATION HAVE TO STATE IN THE HOTEL FOR THE REST OF THE VACATION. 10 PEOPLE GOT SICK. TWO PEOPLE ENDED UP IN THE ICU. THREE BUSINESSES WERE TEMPORARILY CLOSED. COWORKERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WERE WORRIED. THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TEAM IS STILL MONITORING PEOPLE WHO WERE EXPOSED AND THEY EXPECT TO LEARN OF ADDITIONAL COVID-19 CASES STEMMING FROM THAT SINGLE CAR RIDE. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW ONE PERSON CAN AFFECT OTHERS INVOLVES A BIRTHDAY PARTY IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE. A WOMAN WENT TO GET TESTED, ALL TESTED POSITIVE. WHILE WAITING TO RECEIVE RESULTS, SHE DECIDED TO HOST HER 50TH BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH ABOUT 20 GUESTS. TWO OF THOSE GUESTS RUN A HOME DAYCARE CENTER. ONE OF THEM TESTED POSITIVE AND THEY HAD TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE THE DAYCARE. THE DIFFERENT GUESTS WHO ALSO WORKS IN A FOSTER CARE GROUP FOR TEENAGE HOME ALSO TESTED POSITIVE. THAT FOSTER CARE HAS NONEMPLOYEES AND 6 — NINE EMPLOYEES AND SIX RESIDENTS WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE. ANOTHER COUNTY, THERE IS A CHARITABLE FUNDRAISER IN MID JULY WITH 100 TO TWO PEOPLE HUNDRED IN ATTENDANCE. DINNER AFTERWARDS WITH A BAND ON SITE. TO DATE, THEY HAVE HAD 46 CASES TIED TO THIS CHARITABLE EVENT. 31 OF THESE CASES ARE PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THE FUNDRAISER. 11 CASES OF PEOPLE WHO GAVE THE ILLNESS, SORRY, WHO THEY GAVE ILLNESS TWO. FOUR CASES ARE STILL BEING INVESTIGATED BUT HAVE TIES TO THE EVENTS. WE DON’T BRING THESE UP TO SHAME ANYBODY OR TO SAY YOU DID SOMETHING BAD. WE SIMPLY ARE TRYING TO SHOW WHAT WE ARE SEEING AND SHARE WITH YOU WHAT WE SEE EVERY DAY. THAT IS STORIES OF AVERAGE OHIOANS WHO, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT AS CAUTIOUS AS THEY SHOULD BE OR THEY MIGHT BE, WE END UP WITH A VERY SIGNIFICANT SPREAD. I THINK WE CAN LOOK AT THESE STORIES AS INSTRUCTIVE OF HOW TOUGH THIS VIRUS IS, HOW IT SPREADS AND HOW IT CERTAINLY SPREADS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO IDEA THAT THEY HAVE THE VIRUS AT ALL. LET ME TURN TO ANOTHER SUBJECT IN MARCH. TOURISM OHIO LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES DURING THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. I KNOW YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THESE ADS. ALONG THE WEBSITE, THE CAMPAIGN HAS INCLUDED TELEVISION ADS WHICH I SEE A LOT. THIS WEEK, TOURISM OHIO IS LAUNCHING A NEW AD. IT ENCOURAGES OHIOANS TO BE SAFE WHILE SUPPORTING LOCAL OHIO BUSINESSES BY SHOWING CONSUMERS WEARING MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND ASKING THEM TO PUT SAFETY FIRST SO YOU CAN MAKE MEMORIES THAT LAST. OHIO IS PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST STATES TO SHOW CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES BEING SAFE BY WASHING HANDS, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WEARING MASKS. LET’S TAKE A LOOK. ♪ >> OHIO BUSINESSES HAVE SHOWN AMAZING STRENGTH BY CHANGING TO KEEP US SAFE. NOW IT IS TIME FOR ALL OF US TO DO OUR PART, SO THE PLACES WE LOVE CAN STAY OPEN. LIKE WEARING MASKS, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WASHING OUR HANDS. WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER, OHIO. LET’S PUT SAFETY FIRST SO WE CAN MAKE MEMORIES THAT LAST. ♪ GOV. DEWINE: ALL RIGHT. NOW, LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CHILDCARE. I KNOW IT IS A SUBJECT THAT WE RECEIVED A LOT OF INQUIRIES ABOUT. PEOPLE ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY INTERESTED, PARTICULARLY WITH SCHOOL ABOUT TO START. MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OF COURSE, ARE MOVING TO ONLINE, PART-WEEK OPTIONS. WHAT WE ARE SEEING FROM OUR SCHOOLS IS ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT DECISIONS, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS. FAMILIES ARE TRACKING THAT AND FAMILIES OF BOTH PARENTS WHO ARE WORKING. THEY ARE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO ALONG WITH THEIR CHILDREN. WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN CANNOT LEARN UNLESS THEY ARE SAFE, UNLESS THEY ARE CARED FOR. AND WITHOUT ACCESS TO CHILDCARE, PARENTS MAY RESORT TO LESS THAN IDEAL OPTIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CHOICE FOR THEIR CHILD CARE. THAT MIGHT INCLUDE RELYING ON ELDERLY GRANDMOTHER, GRANDFATHER WHO NORMALLY EVERYTHING WOULD BE FINE EXCEPT TODAY THEY ARE AT GREATER RISK FOR COVID AND THAT WOULD CREATE A GREAT WORRY. WE ARE ANNOUNCING TODAY THAT EFFECTIVE AUGUST 9, CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IN OHIO MAY RETURN TO THEIR NATURAL — NORMAL STATUTORY RATIOS AND CLASS SIZES. CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WILL BE GIVEN A CHOICE AND WE WILL SPELL THIS OUT IN THE DAYS AHEAD. LET ME GO BACK A MINUTE. IF YOU RECALL THE CHILDCARE THAT HAS BEEN ON FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS DURING THIS PANDEMIC, WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE IT AS SAFE AS WE CAN AND TO REDUCE THE CHANCES OF SPREAD OF THAT VIRUS. ONE OF THE WAYS WE HAVE DONE IT IS WE HAVE REDUCED THE RATIO. WE REDUCED THE RATIO, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN PER ROOM, PER ADULT, PER CAREGIVER. IT IS CLEAR — WHILE DOING THAT, WE HAVE SUBSIDIZED TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $30 MILLION A MONTH, CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. BOTH THOSE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT ARE NOT NORMALLY SUBSIDIZED AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE SUBSIDIZED NORMALLY. WE HAVE DONE THAT SO THE CHILDCARE COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE CHILDCARE IN THE MANNER THAT WE FELT IT NEEDED TO BE RUN WITH A REDUCED RATIO. IT IS ALSO CLEAR, PARTICULARLY WITH SCHOOL GETTING READY TO START BACKUP AND A LOT OF LIP AND — A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEMANDS ON PARENTS, THAT SYSTEM WOULD NO LONGER WORK. WE RECEIVED COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE WET A HARD TIME GETTING INTO CHILDCARE. WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW, WHAT WE DO IN THE FIRST PART OF AUGUST NEWS WE WILL GIVE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS A CHOICE. THEY CAN GET A SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDY AND IF THEY DO THAT, THEY WILL NEED TO KEEP THE SMALL RATIO OR IF THEY ELECTED NOT TO DO THAT, THEY WILL GO BACK TO THE NORMAL STATUTORY RATIO. I KNOW WE HAVE RECEIVED SOME QUESTIONS IN REGARD TO OUTBREAKS CONNECTED WITH CHILDCARE. THE BEST DATA WE COULD COME UP WITH WOULD INDICATE WE HAVE HAD 442 PEOPLE SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN. OF THAT GROUP, 306 WERE STAFF AND ANOTHER 36 WERE CHILDREN. WHO CAME DOWN POSITIVE WHO WERE IN CHILDCARE. JOBS AND FAMILY SERVICES WENT BACK AND TRIED TO DETERMINE — THIS IS IMPRECISE ART — BUT TRIED TO DETERMINE HOW MANY OF THOSE ACTUALLY CAME OUT OF THE CHILDCARE SETTING AND HOW MANY MAY HAVE COME DIRECTLY FROM COMMUNITY SPREAD. AGAIN, DIFFICULT TO HAVE THAT FIGURED OUT BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ABOUT THREE FOURTHS OF THOSE CAME FROM COMMUNITY SPREAD. ABOUT ONE FOURTH CAME FROM CASES DIRECTLY FROM THAT CHILDCARE SETTING ITSELF. EVEN WITH INCREASED CLASSROOM SIZES, CHILDCARE PROVIDERS STILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH VERY STRINGENT HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. THESE INCLUDE FACE COVERINGS FOR ALL STAFF AND CHILDREN OVER 10 UNLESS THEY HAVE A HEALTH EXEMPTION. SYMPTOM AND TEMPERATURE CHECK SWING STAFF AND CHILDREN ARRIVE. WASHING HANDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, INCLUDING UPON ARRIVAL AND BEFORE DEPARTURE. FREQUENT CLEANING OF HIGH TOUCH SURFACES AND REGULAR DEEP CLEANING. PROVIDERS WILL REPORT ANY COVID CASES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JOBS AND FAMILY SERVICES AS WELL AS TO THEIR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR REPORTS OF COVID EVERYWHERE AND CERTAINLY INCLUDING CHILDCARE. AS WELL AS WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT COMPLIANCE WITH RULES AND BEST PRACTICES AND RESPOND AS NEEDED TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN, FAMILY AND TEACHERS SAFE. I MIGHT ADD ONE ADDITIONAL THING TO THAT AND THAT IS THERE IS A FAIRLY LARGE STUDY THAT IS GOING ON THAT OHIO HAS PARTICIPATED IN CHILDCARE. IT IS POSSIBLE DATA WILL COME BACK FROM THAT. WE DON’T HAVE THAT DATA YET. WE MAY NECESSITATE OR INDICATE SOME ADDITIONAL CHANGES BUT WE WILL HAVE TO SEE THAT STUDY. WE WILL HAVE TO SEE. IT’S A QUITE LARGE STUDY, BUT OHIO PARTICIPATED IN THAT STUDY AND WE ANXIOUSLY AWAIT THE RESULTS OF THAT STUDY. LET ME JUST SAY TO ALL OUR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK EVERY DAY WHO ARE OUT THERE WITH OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. THESE ARE NOT EASY JOBS IN NORMAL TIMES. AND THEY’RE CERTAINLY NOT EASY TIMES AS WE LIVE WITH THIS COVID. SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF THE CHILDREN. I KNOW SO MANY OF YOU DO THIS JUST OUT OF A DEEP PASSION AND LOVE FOR CHILDREN AND WE ARE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT WE WILL READY TO GO TO QUESTION REPORTER: GOOD AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR. KEVIN LANDERS. WHY ARE COUNTIES IN RED CONTINUING TO ALLOW HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES TO TRAIN IN GROUPS? WE HAVE ATHLETES IN WESTERVILLE AND THOSE IN CENTRAL OHIO THAT HAVE TESTED POSITIVE AND THEIR SPORTS WERE SHUT DOWN. ON THE SAME NOTE, COLUMBUS HAS CLOSED BARS AT 10:00. DO YOU BELIEVE OTHER COUNTIES IN RED SHOULD DO THE SAME? THANK YOU. GOV. DEWINE: FIRST OF ALL, I’VE TALKED WITH THE MAYOR OVER THE LAST WEEK ABOUT THAT DECISION. I APPLAUD THE DECISION. I THINK IT’S THE RIGHT DECISION. WE’LL HAVE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ON THURSDAY ABOUT BARS. SO NOTHING TODAY. BUT WE’LL COME BACK ON THAT. LOOK, LET’S TALK ABOUT SPORTS, AND LET ME JUST TALK ABOUT, IF I COULD, IN THE CONTEXT OF SCHOOLS IN GENERAL. WE ARE ALL IN A DIFFICULT PERIOD. WE ARE LIVING IN A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE IS. WE WILL, IN FACT, DETERMINE THE FUTURE BY WHAT COLLECTIVELY WE DO. WE’VE GOT MIXED NUMBERS, AS I INDICATED, WE HAVE SOME OF THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS LOOK BETTER, LOOK PRETTY GOOD. WE HOPE THOSE CONTINUE, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH COVID WHO ARE SHOWING UP IN EMERGENCY ROOMS. WE ARE SEEING PARTICULARLY IN THE RED COUNTIES THAT HAVE BEEN RED THE LONGEST SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE USE OF MASKS. THAT IS A VERY, VERY POSITIVE THING. ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE, YOU KNOW, WE’RE NOT GOING DOWN YET IN CASES CERTAINLY. WE’VE GOT HIGH NUMBER OF CASES. OUR POSITIVITY NUMBER HAS BEEN FAIRLY STEADY. WE HOPE WE’VE HIT A PLATEAU AND WE HOPE IT STARTS GOING DOWN. SO A LOT OF MIXED THINGS AS WE LOOK AT THIS. SO WE HAVE SCHOOLS. WE HAVE SUPERINTENDENTS. WE HAVE SCHOOL BOARDS. WE HAVE PARENTS. WHO ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT’S THIS WORLD GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN FOUR WEEKS, THREE WEEKS WHEN WE START BACK TO SCHOOL? AND NO ONE CAN TELL THEM. I CAN’T TELL THEM. NO ONE CAN TELL THEM! SO THEY’RE HAVING TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS. WE’VE GOT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE DOING SOMETHING THIS SUMMER. AND, YOU KNOW, IT’S A BALANCE AND DECISION THE PARENTS MAKE WHETHER OR NOT BEING INVOLVED IN SOME ORGANIZED SPORTS IS A BETTER USE OF THEIR TIME AND MAYBE SAFER OR MORE DANGEROUS DEPENDING ON HOW THE PARENT LOOKS AT IT THAN WHAT ELSE THAT CHILD WOULD BE DOING DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME. SO I HOPE THAT IF WE PULL TOGETHER, AS OHIOANS OVER THE NEXT TWO, THREE, FOUR WEEKS WE CAN REMOVE SOME OF THIS AMBIGUITY. WE CAN REMOVE SOME OF THIS UNCERTAINTY. AND WE CAN START GETTING A PATHWAY, AND THE PATHWAY NEEDS TO BE GOING DOWN IN CASES AND WE NEED TO SEE THAT. AND WE NEED TO SEE IT ALL OVER THE STATE OF OHIO. WE NEED TO SEE IT IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE NEED TO SEE THE POSITIVITY NUMBER START TO GO DOWN. THAT’S WHAT WE NEED TO DO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO THIS BUT WE’VE GOT TO PULL TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER. SO MY ONLY POINT, KEVIN, IS PARENTS ARE MAKING TOUGH CHOICES. AND THESE TOUGH CHOICES ARE ONLY GOING TO GET MORE DIFFICULT IF WE DON’T GET CONTROL OF THIS VIRUS SO LET’S GET CONTROL OF THIS VIRUS REPORTER: GOOD AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR, TODAY, COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS SAID IT WILL START ITS SCHOOL YEAR VIRTUALLY FOR THE FIRST NINE WEEKS. THE OHIO EDUCATION ASSOCIATION JUST SAID THEY WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE THE CASE FOR ANY PURPLE OR RED COUNTY SCHOOL BUILDING. DO YOU THINK THOSE ARE WISE DECISIONS? AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR TO DETERMINE WHETHER YOU WILL TAKE ACTION TO SEND CHILDREN BACK TO ALL REMOTE LEARNING AS YOU DID IN THE FALL? GOV. DEWINE: WELL, THAT’S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. THE ANSWER I JUST GAVE IS PROBABLY THE BEST ANSWER I CAN GIVE. AND THAT SIMPLY IS THAT IF WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WE CAN START THESE NUMBERS GOING THE RIGHT DIRECTION. NOW, WE ARE AT A CRUCIAL TIME. AND THESE ARE TOUGH DECISIONS. LOOK, I’VE GOT — WE GOT GRANDKIDS WHO LIVE FIVE MILES FROM EACH OTHER. IN ONE SCHOOL, AND THE SCHOOLS ARE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE. IN ONE SCHOOL, THE DECISION WAS MADE FOR THE FIRST WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS THE FIRST QUARTER. TOTALLY REMOTE. THE OTHER SCHOOL MADE THE DECISION, BASICALLY, THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BE REMOTE IF YOU WANT TO. BUT THE NORM IS GOING TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL FULL TIME. I DON’T THINK ANY OF US, FR FRANKLY, HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO KNOW WHICH ONE OF THOSE SD DECISIONS IS THE RIGHT DECISION OR WRONG DECISION. WHAT WE’VE DONE IN REGARD TO SCHOOLS, WE HAVE A LONG, LONG HISTORY OF SCHOOLS MAKING UP THEIR OWN DECISIONS. WE EVEN LET SCHOOLS IN THE STATE DECIDE WHEN THEY START SCHOOL. WE LET THEM DECIDE ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS. AND THAT’S BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH — 600 AND SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS, VERY, VERY DIVERSE, DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. DIFFERENT KIDS, DIFFERENT PARENTS, DIFFERENT CULTURES AND SO WE HISTORICALLY DO THAT. WE’VE GIVEN THEM SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT GUIDANCE AND WE MAY ADD TO SOME OF THAT GUIDANCE ON THURSDAY. BUT WE’VE GIVEN THEM SOME GUIDANCE. BUT WE’VE LET THAT DIFFICULT DECISION ABOUT HOW THEY START BACK IN OR WHEN THEY START BACK IN UP TO THEM. YOU KNOW, IF WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE THERE’S A CLEARANCE AND IT’S CLEAR WHICH WAY WE SHOULD GO, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK WE’VE GOT KIDS IN DANGER. IF I SEE KIDS IN DANGER IN THIS STATE, AND I KNOW THEY’RE IN DANGER, WE WILL TAKE ACTION. BUT AT THIS POINT, NO ONE CAN SAY THAT ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS MAKING A RIGHT DECISION AND ONE IS MAKING A WRONG DECISION. I THINK THESE ARE TOUGH DECISIONS. THE GOOD THINGS THAT SCHOOLS ARE DOING IS THEY’VE LOOKED AT THIS AS WE NEED ALTERNATIVES AND THEY ARE GIVING PARENTS CHOICES. SO THOSE ARE TWO VERY, VERY POSITIVE THINGS THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE DOING. BUT WE COULD INTERVENE, I MAY INTERVENE BUT CERTAINLY THERE’S NOT ENOUGH DATA YET TO MAKE ANY KIND OF CALL LIKE THAT WE’RE NOT IN THAT POSITION TO DO IT OR JUDGE AND SAY THAT’S WRONG, THAT’S RIGHT. EVERY DAY WE GET CLOSER, WE’RE GOING TO KNOW MORE. REPORTER: HI, GOVERNOR, MAX WITH THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH. OVER THE WEEKEND, WE AND OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS REPORTED THAT YOU WERE IN MEETINGS WITH DR. DEBORAH BIRX FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TASK FORCE DISCUSSING THE RISE IN POSITIVITY RATES IN PLACES LIKE COLUMBUS AND CLEVELAND. I’M WONDERING IF YOU CAN TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THOSE MEETINGS WENT AND WHAT YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH THE WHITE HOUSE MOVING FORWARD WILL BE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO LOWER THOSE POSITIVITY RATES. GOV. DEWINE: IN FACT, I’VE GOT A CALL AT 3:00, 22 MINUTES FROM NOW, WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT AND DR. BIRX AND OTHERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE ALONG WITH OTHER GOVERNORS. WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION. WE DID IT PRIMARILY VIRTUALLY. SHE WAS IN COLUMBUS. SHE GAVE US KIND OF HER TAKE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. SHE HAS A CONCERN ABOUT MIDWEST AND CONCERN ABOUT KENTUCKY, OHIO, INDIANA, REST OF THE MIDWEST. SHE SHARED SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT. THE GOOD THING ABOUT THESE MEETINGS IS THAT YOU CAN REALLY KIND OF GET DOWN INTO THE DETAILS. SO WE HAD A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION WITH HER IN REGARD TO TESTING. AND SOME POSSIBILITIES THAT THINGS THAT SHE SUGGESTED AND THEN WE WENT BACK, I CAN’T REALLY TALK ABOUT THESE YET BECAUSE WE HAVEN’T GOT ANYTHING WORKED OUT YET, BUT SHE HAD AN IDEA AND THEN WE CAME BACK WITH SOME INFORMATION TO HER AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THAT DISCUSSION. BUT SHE WAS VERY ENGAGED. STAFF — HER STAFF WAS VERY ENGAGED. WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO FOLLOW UP WITH THEM SINCE THAT DISCUSSION. BUT SHE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT TESTING AND TIMELY TESTING AND GETTING RESULTS BACK PLAYS IN, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THIS. SO A LOT OF OUR DISCUSSION HAD TO DO — HAD TO DO WITH TESTING. I DON’T THINK IT’S ANY SECRET THAT THE WHITE HOUSE’S GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN THAT IN SOME OF OUR COUNTIES THAT THEY CALL OUR YELLOW COUNTIES, YOU KNOW, THEIR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO SHUT BARS DOWN. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. BUT THERE WAS A GOOD DISCUSSION. VERY HELPFUL. REPORTER: THANK YOU. GOV. DEWINE: HI, GOVERNOR. JIM FROM WHIO TV IN DAYTON. SWITCHING GEARS HERE, I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT WHAT MAY BE HAPPENING EITHER NEXT OR EVENTUALLY IN RESPONSE TO THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION HERE. TO WHAT DEGREE, GOVERNOR, WOULD YOU SUPPORT REFORM LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ELIMINATE SO-CALLED DARK MONEY CAMPAIGN GROUPS AT 501C4’S. IT WOULD ELIMINATE THAT AND ADD SUNSHINE TO THIS WHETHER THAT’S HERE OR ELSEWHERE. WOULD YOU SUPPORT THAT? GOV. DEWINE: WHAT I HAVE SAID, JIM, IS I’M FOR AS MUCH OPENNESS AS POSSIBLE. BUT I DON’T WANT TO MISLEAD ANYBODY WHO IS WATCHING THIS TODAY. THE MERE EXISTENCE OF THESE DARK GROUPS IS NOT ILLEGAL TODAY. VIRTUALLY, EVERY RACE, STATEWIDE RACE TODAY FOR MAJOR OFFICE, NOT JUST IN OHIO BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS AN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE GROUP. MY GUESS IS THAT THERE’S NOT ANYBODY WHO IS RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN IN THIS COUNTRY THAT DOESN’T HAVE AN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE GROUP THAT’S BEEN SET UP. SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK AT THIS, I THINK WE HAVE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE ALLEGATIONS IN REGARD TO MR. HOUSEHOLDER, THAT PART OF THOSE ALLEGATIONS THAT TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT’S ILLEGAL VS. THE MERE EXISTENCE OF INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE GROUPS WHICH IS NOT ILLEGAL. YOUR QUESTION IS THE RIGHT QUESTION. YOUR QUESTION IS OK, MIKE, WHAT — YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD YOU FAVOR? LOOK, I WOULD FAVOR TOTAL TRANSPARENCY. SO THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE GIVEN HAVE TO BE DISCLOSED. WHAT I DON’T KNOW AND I’VE ASKED MY TEAM TO LOOK AT THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO BASED UPON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT CASE OF CITIZENS UNITED WHICH TOOK A VERY EXPANSIVE VIEW OF SPEECH, POLITICAL SPEECH, AND EQUATED IT TO THE EXPENDITURE OF MONEY AND NOT ONLY THAT CASE BUT SUBSEQUENT INTERPRETATIONS OF THAT CASE, WHETHER OR NOT WHAT KIND OF LEGISLATION THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY GET THROUGH THAT WOULD BE CONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE AN OBLIGATION NOT TO PASS ANYTHING THAT’S NOT CONSTITUTIONAL. MY COMMITMENT IS PEOPLE OF OHIO THAT WE’LL DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO HAVE MORE OPENNESS AND WE WILL COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND I’M SURE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARE LOOKING AT THINGS OF THAT NATURE AS WELL, AS WELL THEY SHOULD. WE INTEND TO WORK WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THIS. REPORTER: THANK YOU, GOVERNOR. REPORTER: GOOD AFTERNOON, BEN SCHWARTZ WITH WCPO IN CINCINNATI. GOVERNOR DEWINE, DR. ANTHONY FAUCI WAS ON “GOOD MORNING AMERICA” THIS MORNING AND FLAGGED OHIO AMONG A HANDFUL OF OTHER STATES SPECIFICALLY MIDWEST STATES THAT HE’S WORRIED ABOUT WITH COVID-19 CASES. HE WARNED THAT IF PROPER PRECAUTIONS AREN’T TAKEN THAT SPIKES THAT HAPPENED IN STATES LIKE FLORIDA AND TEXAS, OHIO COULD BECOME THOSE NEXT. I’M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE A RESPONSE TO THAT WARNING. GOV. DEWINE: CORRECT. I DON’T THINK THERE’S ANY DOUBT ABOUT THE SPOTLIGHT SHOULD BE ON THE MIDWEST TODAY. THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY AS WELL AS INDIANA YESTERDAY. THE THREE OF US TALK EVERY WEEK. OUR NUMBERS ARE NOT TOTALLY DISSIMILAR, FAIRLY CLOSE AND WE’RE ALL CONCERNED, WE’RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR STATES. AS I SAID, WE ARE AT A, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS OUT THERE IF YOU LOOK AT THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS, PEOPLE GOING INTO HOSPITALS, WE HOPE IT’S NOT A BLIP. WE HOPE IT’S REAL. THOSE NUMBERS ARE STARTING TO GO DOWN BUT WE’RE SEEING HOSPITALIZATION GO UP, WE’RE SEEING CASES AT A HISTORICALLY HIGH LEVEL SO YEAH, WE’RE VERY, VERY CONCERNED. I DO BELIEVE THAT WE’VE SEEN SOME PROGRESS IN REGARD TO PEOPLE WEARING MASKS. I BELIEVE THAT THAT HAS RESULTED IN SOME OF THESE BETTER NUMBERS AND I THINK IF WE ALL DO THAT, COUNTIES WHERE THEY MAY NOT THINK THEY HAVE MUCH COVID, IF THEY CAN KEEP THEIR COUNTY A YELLOW COUNTY OR ORANGE COUNTY, KEEP YELLOW YELLOW AND ORANGE, ORANGE WE’RE GOING TO BE A LOT BETTER OFF AND WE’RE GOING TO, AGAIN, HAVE A GREAT BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK. BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SCHOOL AND SPORTS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE IN THE FALL. SO THE WARNING IS HEEDED, THE WARNING IS CORRECT AND THE DOCTOR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT’S SAYING THAT. DR. BIRX SAID THE SAME THING AS WELL TO US THIS WEEKEND REPORTER: HI, GOVERNOR. ANDY WITH THE STATEHOUSE NEWS BUREAU. YOU WERE MENTIONING THE EVENTS THAT LEAD TO THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 FUNDRAISERS AND ROAD TRIPS. WHAT DO YOU — THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO PLAN THESE EVENTS AND THEY SAY WELL, I’M TAKING — I’M TAKING MY OWN RISK. I KNOW THE RISK AND I’M GOING TO TAKE THAT RISK BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO DO. WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE TO PEOPLE TO SAY THAT IT’S THAT RISK THAT THEY’RE WILLING TO TAKE? GOV. DEWINE: ONE OF THE FEW TIMES IN OUR LIFE WHEN WE KNOW WHAT WE DO OR DON’T DO EVERY SINGLE DAY WILL IMPACT OTHER PEOPLE’S HEALTH, MAYBE THEIR LIVES. THAT’S A PRETTY AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE ALL HAVE. AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW NOT A QUESTION OF, OK, I DECIDE TO GO DO SOMETHING RISKY. AND THE ONLY PERSON THAT’S GOING TO GET HURT IS ME. IT’S A DIFFERENT STORY. WE MAY TELL SOMEONE, I WISH YOU WOULDN’T DO THAT. BUT TO SOME EXTENT, WE LOOK AT THAT PERSON AND SAY OK, THEY GOT TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICE. THAT’S VERY DIFFERENT, THOUGH, WHEN YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT COVID-19 THAT IS VERY, VERY CONTAGIOUS. THE ONE STORY I TOLD THERE, YOU KNOW, JUST THINK HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE IMPACTED BY ONE CAR RIDE. HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE IMPACTED BY ONE CHARITABLE EVENT. AND IT GOES WELL BEYOND PEOPLE WHO DECIDE TO ATTEND OR NOT ATTEND THE EVENT. IT MAY BE A SPOUSE. IT MAY BE A GRANDMOTHER. IT MAY BE A CO-WORKER TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE NEXT WEEK. WHAT MAKES THIS SO DIFFERENT, SO DIFFERENT THAN SO MANY THINGS THAT WE DEAL WITH IN LIFE IS THAT THERE’S NO SYMPTOMS MANY TIMES. THERE’S NO SYMPTOMS. AND, AGAIN, THAT’S WHY THE ADVICE IN REGARD TO MASKS, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS CERTAINLY EVOLVED AND WE STARTED THIS, I DON’T THINK WE HAD REALLY A CLUE HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD HAVE THIS AND NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS. TODAY WE DO. WE GOT A PRETTY GOOD IDEA. AND SO THE ADVICE HAS EVOLVED. BUT SO I WOULD SAY TO ANYONE WHO THINKS IT’S ABOUT THEM IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU. IT’S ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE. AND YOU’RE ENTITLED TO TAKE YOUR OWN CHANCES. YOU’RE NOT ENTITLED TO TAKE CHANCES ON SOMEBODY ELSE’S LIFE. REPORTER: GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS JACKIE FROM “THE CINCINNATI INQUIRER”. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED PLANS TO GO FORWARD WITH HOME GAMES AT ABOUT 20% CAPACITY, ABOUT 21,000 FANS IN THE SHOE. THAT SEEMS TO GO AGAINST EVEN THE MOVE YOU JUST MADE EARLIER TODAY CLOSING DOWN LARGE EVENTS AT THE FAIRS. DO YOU SUPPORT THIS PLAN? GOV. DEWINE: I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT I THINK IT’S — WE ALL LOVE OHIO STATE FOOTBALL. AT LEAST MOST OF US DO. WE HAVE A FEW OUTLIARS FROM MICHIGAN OR PENN STATE OR SOMEBODY ELSE BUT MOST OHIOANS LOVE OHIO STATE FOOTBALL. IT’S PARTS OF OUR FALL. IT’S PART OF WHAT WE LIKE TO DO. BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE TO DETERMINE PRIORITIES. AND, YOU KNOW, IT’S TOO EARLY, FRANKLY, TO DETERMINE WHAT IS SAFE? IT’S TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE WHETHER PUTTING, YOU KNOW, OVER 20,000 PEOPLE IN OHIO STATE STADIUM IS REALLY A SAFE THING OR NOT. I DON’T THINK WE KNOW THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, IT’S OK TO PLAN. I THINK PLANNING IS GOOD. BUT WHETHER IT’S 20% OR 10% OR SOMETHING ELSE, I DON’T THINK WE KNOW AT THIS POINT IN TIME. YOU KNOW, WHAT I THINK WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE CONCERNED WITH WHEN WE’RE TALKING ABOUT ANY KIND OF SPORT PARTICULARLY A BIG SPORT, YOU KNOW, BROWNS-BENGALS, REDS-INDIANS IF WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE GOING THERE, IS NOT JUST WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE THE BALLPARK OR INSIDE THE STADIUM. I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE GREAT PROFESSIONAL TEAMS AND OHIO STATE, GREAT UNIVERSITY, THEY CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE TO SEAT PEOPLE AND KEEP THEM SAFE AT SOME LEVEL. I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT LEVEL IS. BUT AT SOME LEVEL. BUT THE REAL CONCERN IS WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE? WHAT’S THE INGRESS, EGRESS, WHAT ARE ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH HAVING THAT MANY PEOPLE IN ONE SITE? EVEN THOUGH IT’S A BIG PLACE, IT’S STILL 20 SOME THOUSAND PEOPLE OR 10,000 OR WHATEVER NUMBER WE END UP DECIDING UPON. SO I THINK, LOOK, IT’S FINE FOR OHIO STATE TO PLAN. WE ALL — YOU KNOW, WE ALL LOVE TO LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE AND, OF COURSE, THEY’VE ALREADY TAKEN OFF THE NON-BIG 10 SCHEDULE. BUT WE SURE HOPE WE HAVE FOOTBALL IN THE FALL. WE SURE HOPE WE HAVE SCHOOL IN THE FALL. WE HOPE OUR KIDS CAN PLAY FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IN THE FALL AND RUN CROSS COUNTRY AND DO OTHER THINGS. WHETHER IT’S TOO EARLY, WE CANNOT TELL. AND WE’RE GOING TO, AGAIN, CONTROL THAT. FOR THOSE WHO LOVE OHIO STATE FOOTBALL, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHAT COUNTY YOU LIVE IN, IF WE CAN WEAR A MASK AND BE CAREFUL, IT INCREASES OUR ODDS. NO GUARANTEES IN LIFE. BUT IT CERTAINLY INCREASES OUR ODDS OF BEING ABLE TO DO THA REPORTER: NBC 4, I HAD A QUESTION REGARDING YOU BROUGHT UP SOME STORIES ABOUT HOW FAMILIES ARE TRAVELING AND STILL SPREADING IT TO OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE OF JUST BEHAVIORAL THINGS THAT THEY’RE DOING BUT NOW WE’RE TALKING ABOUT OPENING BACK DAYCARES UP TO FULL CAPACITY FOR SOME OF THEM. ANY CONCERNS WITH THE CHILDREN NOT BEING ABLE TO FOLLOW THESE BEHAVIORS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SPREADING IT TO THEIR FAMILIES? JUST EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT OF THE THOUHT PROCESS OF GETTING THEM BACK TO FULL CAPACITY. GOV. DEWINE: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. THERE’S BEEN FEW THINGS THAT I’VE AGONIZED OVER AS MUCH AS CHILDCARE. I BECAME CONVINCED THAT THE ALTERNATIVE WAS CHILDREN IN UNSAFE CONDITIONS AS PEOPLE GO BACK TO WORK AND AS KIDS GO BACK IN THE FALL AND OTHER THINGS HAPPEN. WE HAD FOR THE SUMMER, I THINK THE SAFEST CHILDCARE IN THE COUNTRY. AT LEAST BY THE REGULATIONS WE HAVE, THE RATIOS THAT WE HAVE. WE WERE SOME OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE IN THE SENSE OF CONSERVATIVE BEING SAFE RATIOS. NOW, I CAUGHT A LOT OF HELL FOR THAT. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WERE UPSET. CERTAINLY A LOT OF CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WERE UPSET. WE DID SUBSIDIZE SOME OF THEM. WE SUBSIDIZED ANYBODY THAT WAS DOING THAT AND ANYBODY THAT WAS FOLLOWING THAT. BUT I BECAME CONVINCED THAT THE ALTERNATIVE — AND A LOT OF THESE CHOICES ARE ONE CHOICE OR THE OTHER. NEITHER ONE IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT. THAT THE ALTERNATIVE OF THESE KIDS NOT HAVING A PLACE TO GO, THE GRANDPARENTS TAPING KIDS AND PARTICULARLY GRANDPARENTS WHO MIGHT HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION OR MIGHT BE OLD ER AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON THAT OUR DAYCARE PROVIDERS WHO DO A GOOD JOB WERE BETTER ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE KIDS. SO THEN WE LOOKED AT AND SAID, OK, HOW CAN WE MAYBE CONTINUE SOME OF THESE SMALLER RATIOS? AND WE CAME BACK WITH THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD TAKE MONEY AND THIS WAS THE CARES — SOME OF THE CARES ACT MONEY. AND WE WOULD SUBSIDIZE SOME OF THESE DAYCARES AND BASICALLY, WE WOULD LET THE MARKET CONTROL THE DAYCARES THAT WANTED TO OPERATE UNDER A SMALLER RATIO AND WE WOULD GIVE THEM THE SUBSIDY. THAT WOULD BE FINE. THE ONES WHO WOULD GO BACK TO WHAT THE STATUTORY NUMBERS ARE, IN THOSE PARTICULAR CASES, THEY WOULD NOT GET THE SUBSIDY. SO THIS IS THE BEST THAT WE COULD COME UP WITH IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION. I ASKED THOSE IN FAMILY SERVICES TO GIVE ME THE NUMBERS. AND I READ THOSE NUMBERS BECAUSE FRANKLY, I WANTED TO SEE WHAT — HOW MANY KIDS AND ADULTS END UP WITH COVID. AND SO I GAVE YOU THOSE NUMBERS EARLIER ON. AND I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT. WE ALSO, AS I SAID, ARE PARTICIPATING IN SORT OF FIRST OF ITS KIND STUDY, VERY LARGE STUDY, THAT IS AIMED AT OUR CHILDCARE WORKERS. AND THE STUDY COMPARES CHILDCARE WORKERS WHO WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, WENT HOME. DIDN’T — WERE NO LONGER — THEIR CHILDCARE FACILITY CLOSED. THEY DIDN’T WORK. THEY WENT HOME VS. THOSE WHO STAYED AND CONTINUED TO WORK. SO THAT STUDY IS TRYING TO TRACK BOTH OF THEM AND, FRANKLY, TRYING TO SEE WHAT INCREASED RISK THEY HAVE BY WORKING IN CHILDCARE. BECAUSE IF YOU TALK ABOUT THE RISK, THE RISK ARE A KID GETS SICK AND THEN TAKES THAT HOME TO THEIR FAMILY AND YOU HAVE COMMUNITY, FAMILY SPREAD AND COMMUNITY SPREAD. BUT OTHER RISK IS TO THAT CHILDCARE WORKER. THAT CHILDCARE WORKER THAT MAY BE OBESE. THAT CHILDCARE WORKER THAT MAY BE OLDER AND THAT CHILDCARE WORKER WHO MAY HAVE DIABETES. ANY KIND OF ADDITIONAL MEDICAL PROBLEM. AND SO THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, AT RISK. AND SO WHAT THE STUDY IS TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH MORE AT RISK ARE THEY? ARE THEY MORE AT RISK THAN IF WE WERE DOING SOMETHING ELSE? IT SHOULD BE INSTRUCTIVE TO US AND ALSO AIMED AT LOOKING AT WHAT VARIABLES YOU CHANGE IN CHILDCARE TO GET A BETTER RESULT. WE’VE COME UP WITH WHAT WE THINK IS THE BEST. WE DON’T HAVE ANY DATA BEHIND IT BECAUSE NO ONE HAS DONE THE STUDY. SO WHEN THAT STUDY COMES BACK, WE ARE GOING TO KNOW MORE AND I’M SURE WE WILL GO BACK OUT INTO THE FIELD TO OUR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND SAY TO THEM, OK, THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU GOT TO DO AND ASK THEM TO DO THOSE THINGS. WRONG ANSWER. THERE’S BEEN A VERY, A VERY FOR ME A VERY KIND OF AGONIZING DECISION AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, LOOK, WE’VE INCONVENIENCED PEOPLE. WE’VE CAUSED SOME DIFFICULTIES FOR PEOPLE. OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP KIDS SAFE AND THE ADULTS WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF THEM SAFE AND TO SLOW COMMUNITY SPREAD. THAT’S BEEN OUR GOAL. THAT REMAINS OUR GOAL. REPORTER: GOOD AFTERNOON, GOVERNOR. KARIN JOHNSON, WLWT IN CINCINNATI. KENTUCKY JUST CLOSED BARS AND LIMITED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ALLOWED IN RESTAURANTS. ARE YOU CONSIDERING THE SAME RESTRICTIONS? ALSO, YOUR CONTACT SPORTS ORDER EXPIRES IN THREE DAYS. CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE THESE COACHES, PLAYERS, LEAGUES, SOME KIND OF DIRECTION? GOV. DEWINE: NOT TODAY I CAN’T. AND AGAIN, AS I SAID, THESE ARE VERY — THESE ARE TOUGH CALLS. THEY’RE TOUGH CALLS FOR COACHES. THEY’RE TOUGH CALLS FOR PARENTS. AND THEY’RE TOUGH CALLS FOR THE GOVERNOR AND FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. THIS — WE ARE AT A CRITICAL STAGE IN THIS VIRUS. WE DON’T KNOW WHICH WAY IT’S GOING TO GO. IF WE KNEW WHERE IT WAS GOING TO BE IN FOUR WEEKS OR THREE WEEKS, WE WOULD BE IN MUCH BETTER POSITION TO MAKE A DECISION IN REGARD TO SPORTS. BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU WANT TO PLAY FOOTBALL IN THE FALL YOU HAVE TO BE CONDITIONING AND READY. WE UNDERSTAND THERE’S A PROGRESSION. AND SO UP TO THIS POINT, WE HAVE ALLOWED THE PRACTICES AND WE’VE ALLOWED CERTAIN THINGS TO TAKE PLACE AS FAR AS CONDITIONING. SO WE’LL DO THAT. AS FAR AS THE BARS, WE’LL HAVE — WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING A DEEP DIVE ON THAT. FRANKLY, WHAT WE’RE LOOKING AT IS TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY CASES CAME OUT OF BARS THAT WE CAN TRACE BACK TO BARS. AND WE’RE LOOKING AT THAT AND WE’LL HAVE MORE SHORTLY. BUT NOT TODA REPORTER: HI, GOVERNOR, JEFF FROM ABC 6 IN COLUMBUS. I AM THE LAST QUESTION. BY THE WAY, THANK YOU FOR THE MATERIAL FOR MY SON’S GRADUATION PARTY IN 18 YEARS, I’M SURE. YOU’VE INSTITUTED ORDERS LIKE TODAY’S THAT END UP TAKING PLACE A WEEK LATER OR SEVERAL DAYS LATER. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THIS CASE, THERE ARE COUNTY FAIRS SCHEDULED TO GO FORTH BEFORE JULY 31ST. WHY NOT ISSUE THESE IMMEDIATELY? A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY WHY WAIT WHEN THE ACTIVITIES YOU’RE NAMING AS DANGEROUS ARE ALREADY SET TO GO ON? GOV. DEWINE: THIS GOES OFTEN ORDER GOES INTO EFFECT ON THE 31ST. THAT’S PRETTY CLOSE IN TIME. LOOK, FAIRS THAT ARE ALREADY TAKING PLACE, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE VERY, VERY DISRUPTIVE TO GO IN THERE AND TELL THEM THAT THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR FAIR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FAIR. I THINK IT’S VERY DIFFICULT. THERE’S SOME SENSE OF FAIRNESS. IT’S GOING TO BE TOUGH ENOUGH TO DO THAT TO COUNTY FAIRS THAT ARE GOING TO START THIS WEEKEND. WE FELT IT WAS URGENT ENOUGH AND IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO DO THAT. I’M GOING TO END WITH A PLEA TO EVERYBODY IN THE 10 COUNTIES THAT ARE OUT THERE WHERE FAIRS ARE GOING ON NOW. PLEASE BE CAREFUL. PLEASE WEAR A MASK. I’LL SAY TO THE MEMBERS OF THE FAIR BOARDS, PLEASE FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES THAT WE’VE ALREADY GIVEN YOU IN REGARD TO FAIRS AND THEN ADD TO THAT GUIDELINE, OF COURSE, THE STATE ORDER IN REGARD TO WEARING MASKS. WE WANT YOUR FAIR TO BE AS SAFE AS THAT FAIR CAN BE. AND WE WILL, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR FAIR. SO PLEASE KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND TO THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, I’LL SAY THE SAME THING. YOU ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE AS WELL. AND WE KNOW YOU BOTH WILL DO A GOOD JOB AND HOPE EVERYBODY HAS FUN AT THE FAIR. THANK YOU VERY M