DeWine opened today’s press conference talking about Arbor Day and his love for 🌳, followed by an announcement that Ohio’s paying to ensure that no one will have to “age out” or leave foster care during the pandemic.
Ohio has figured out a solution to the reagent problem and swab problem. A non-partisan group led by former Govs Taft and Celeste are leading a ramp-up of testing. We will go from 3000 tests/day to 22K tests/day by the end of May. This is key to the reopening.
Nursing homes and other congregate living situations will be top priority on testing. The extra tests will also enable them to quickly focus on hotspots as well as test frontline workers, including grocery workers. This will be paired w/a robust tracing system.
DeWine again profusely thanks Ohioans for staying home, says we’ve done this the Ohio Way and we are fighters.
Turns it over to Dr. Mark Hurst with Ohio Dept of Hurst but not before drawing on whiteboard, apologizing for bad penmanship, and asking Dr. Hurst to explain how a guy named “Bill” might be spreading the virus and how it can be stopped.
Dr. Hurst gives an explanation of how contact tracing will be implemented: phone interviews, what kinds of info we’ll be asked (ie who did you come in contact with 48 hours before feeling sick? What happened? How long were you in contact? What constitutes close contact?)
Then they explain what those people who “Bill” had contact with will need to do. Lots of nuances, obviously, but there are standard procedures they’ve used for decades. Goal is around 1800 people performing this function here in Ohio.
(The lockdown bought them time to get this up and running)
Emphasis that the testing and tracing DO NOT replace distancing, masks, hand washing, etc.
More details on what exactly this first phase will look like will be released during Monday’s press conference.
Husted implores people to participate in the tracing, and to work as a team. We need to think of this as a service to each other, and a way to play offense instead of defense.
Reminder that Tuesday is vote count day in Ohio. If you have your mail-in ballot, you need to get it in ASAP. It must be post-marked by Monday for it to count. You can also drop off at BOE by 7:30 pm on Tuesday. Local issues on the ballots matter, so please vote.
Conference ends with unveiling of new project by Ohio Arts Council encouraging Ohio artists to use their talents to help us heal and process:
