Gov. Mike DeWine: Republican National Convention couldn't be held in Ohio today

Jackie Borchardt
Cincinnati Enquirer

COLUMBUS – Ohio hosted the Republican National Convention four years ago in Cleveland.

Could that convention happen today in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic?

Gov. Mike DeWine said no, not at this moment.

“We couldn’t have that kind of a mass gathering and have it be considered safe,” DeWine said Thursday.

But he also said the situation could improve in the coming months.

"The world is going to fundamentally change between now and then," DeWine said. "We just don’t know how it’s going to change. We don’t know where this virus Is going to be. We continue to learn things about this virus every single day." 

The RNC is set for Aug. 24-27 in Charlotte, North Carolina. DeWine said whether he and his wife Fran, both delegates, attend the convention will depend on the situation at that point.

Ohio banned gatherings of more than 100 people on March 12 and later limited gatherings to 10 people. That limit is still in place.

More:'I'm ready to follow the president.' As Trump doubles down on an in-person convention, Ohio delegates say they're ready to go.

Testing expanded

Ohio has one of the worst testing rates in the country and is testing far fewer people than the state's capacity.

DeWine announced two new steps Thursday to increase access to testing.

First, state health officials are expanding the criteria to get a coronavirus test. Testing has been prioritized for people who were sick, health care workers and people in congregate living facilities such as nursing homes.

DeWine said that criteria will be expanded to people in the general public who have symptoms who do not meet the other criteria.

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Second, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy has clarified that pharmacists can recommend and administer coronavirus tests. Previously, people needed a doctor's order to get tested.

The state's coronavirus website, coronavirus.ohio.gov, now has a map of testing sites statewide. The sites include pharmacies such as CVS and community health centers.

Outdoor visitation for some congregate settings

DeWine said the state plans to lift prohibitions on visitors in congregate settings in phases. First up: outdoor visits at assisted living facilities and intermediate care facilities for developmentally disabled Ohioans starting June 8.

DeWine said he's not ready to allow visitation at nursing homes.

Visitors have been prohibited at long-term care facilities since March 17. That prohibition makes exceptions for end-of-life situations.

There have been 5,324 COVID-19 cases and 1,073 deaths among residents in nusring homes and other long-term care facilities since April 15, according to the state's Wednesday update. That's 195 newly reported deaths since the previous week. The Ohio Department of Health has said 369 residents died before April 15.

That brings the total to 1,442 – about 71% of the state's total confirmed and probable deaths.

Widespread testing of all nursing home staff members is expected to begin next week, DeWine said.

Local fair guidelines

The Ohio State Fair has been canceled, but decisions for county and independent fairs will be made by local authorities.

DeWine said safety rules and recommendations for fairs will be released Thursday. The rules will allow fairs to hold limited livestock shows and competitions.

“I certainly hope that every fair will be able to find a way, maybe unique to their particular fair, to allow 4-H, FFH and their junior fair,” DeWine said. 

More:Butler County Fair cancels over COVID-19: Here's what other Ohio and NKY fairs are planning

Case counts

As of Thursday, there have been 33,915 total cases of COVID-19, including 2,290 probable cases diagnosed without a positive viral test. That’s 476 more cases than Wednesday.

Cumulatively, 5,811 people have been hospitalized at one point. An estimated 812 were currently hospitalized on Thursday, according to the Ohio Hospital Association.

A total of 2,098 deaths, including 210 probable deaths, have been reported. Of those, 54 were newly reported since Wednesday. 

Thursday’s newly reported cases were below the 21-day average daily increase, while hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions and deaths were above the 21-day averages.