Thread by @geoffredick

I’m a bit late to get started, sorry — @GovMikeDeWine chooses coffee and I’m going with an apple and Twitter for today’s coronavirus briefing.

Follow along...

Off the top, DeWine acknowledged that today's COVID-19 death count is VERY high — 87 new deaths reported.

He explains (as he did last week): those are the deaths that made it into reports over the last 24 hours, not necessarily those that *occurred* in the last 24 hours.

Here's when DeWine first acknowledged these inconsistent numbers last week

https://twitter.com/GeoffWSYX6/status/1304121487775993856

This news conference has included comments from @OhioDeptOfAging, @JobsOhio and superintendents from @Vandaliabutler and @BrookvilleSD schools.

I've been working on this voting issue which is breaking/developing as we speak.

https://twitter.com/GeoffWSYX6/status/1305938631996178433

DeWine says college presidents are seeing COVID problems "the same way as everyone else: people getting together, not being careful, not wearing a mask."

And now we're in Q&A. @GovMikeDeWine is asked about citations that were lacking, even with bars/restaurants in the Cleveland area pretty busy for COVID-19. Reporter says those patrons weren't distancing or wearing masks much.

"We just tell people to be careful..."

DeWine, cont'd: "The biggest spread we've seen is when people are congregating together. As far as our bars...they're doing a good job. We do have our agents out from Liquor Control and we just saw our first bar lose their license yesterday. It's not what we want to see."

DeWine: "We're concerned any time we see people coming close together, close proximity with a lot of people...if people (follow rules), they can have a good time, root for the @Bengals and root for the @Browns."

DeWine is asked about Dr. Joan Duwve withdrawing over the treatment of Dr. Acton's family.

"Key members of my team had conversations with her and some of the demonstrations at Dr. Acton's home came up...sometimes you don't full grasp things until you get into something."

DeWine says, "We were open with her. She called that night — 2:30PM I announced it, 7:30PM she called."

On Halloween, trick-or-treat, @GovMikeDeWine says local health departments will decide.

I asked DeWine if he worries Dr. Duwve's withdrawal will affect his ability to attract/hire other candidates.

In short, he's not worried about finding a good candidate for the Public Health Director position OR the state's Medical Director position.

In response to another question, DeWine was not able to say whether any other candidates had turned down or stepped away from the job due to same concerns Dr. Duwve expressed (harassment of prior health director Dr. Acton).

DeWine is asked about honoring constitutional freedoms re: masks, orders, etc.

"Liberties that we have, rights that we have, protected by our Constitution...I don't think it's unfettered, I don't think any elected official's power is unlimited at all."

On antigen testing: "We think antigen is a part of an overall strategy...part of this is how far along the private sector is in development.

We're all in, in the sense that PCR tests are important, an antigen tests are important in playing a different role."

DeWine confirms he will NOT be with @VP @Mike_Pence in Zanesville tomorrow.

Governor's answers are much shorter than usual today, I'm noticing. Tougher to keep up with live tweeting...

DeWine is again asked about Dr. Duwve & whether protests/harassment make it harder to hire good candidates.

"We've seen protests...we've been divided, I try to bring us together. I don't think we're in a different position than any other state that would hire a health director."

DeWine is asked how he would grade local schools' testing response thus far:

"As far as grading schools, I'm not sure that's really important...I will point out that federal law restricts us in this area, it's going to dictate some of these tests & we don't have any choice."

DeWine is asked about Ohio Controlling Board denying paid postage on absentee ballots this fall. Says he was in favor of it, but:

"Our Secretary of State and local boards, I think are doing a good job...someone does have to affix a stamp, but I think it's a pretty easy process."

DeWine is asked about @realDonaldTrump's remarks that he wanted to "downplay" the pandemic, and whether POTUS ever learned the lessons to be transparent, not "put the best face" on things, etc...

"I'm not going to get into a critique of the President. I'm not going do to that."

He reiterates, as he has many times, that on weekly calls with governors the President and Vice President are business-like and he appreciates working with them.

DeWine is asked about @realDonaldTrump saying many auto plants are being built in Ohio, and whether the record must be corrected (no new auto plants are being built in Ohio).

DeWine touts new @LordstownMotors work in the Mahoning Valley and says "we're moving forward."

DeWine answering another question: "I've been sued so many times during this...I make nothing of it. I turn it over to @Yost4Ohio and the lawyers, and we move on."

DeWine ends the briefing at 3:15PM, a bit earlier than he's recently done so (we've usually gone till 3:30PM).

Plans to return for another briefing on Thursday.