Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Tests Positive For Coronavirus -- Then Tests Negative on Second Test
The initial announcement came shortly before DeWine, a Republican,
was scheduled to satisfy with President Donald Trump in Cleveland.
DeWine was tested as a part of the "standard
protocol" to greet Trump on the tarmac at Burke Lakefront Airport, the
governor's office said during a statement. He returned to Columbus, where he
and his wife Fran were both to be tested.
That second test came back negative, DeWine's official
account announced on Twitter.
Mike DeWine |
"A PCR test was administered to the Governor and
members of his staff this afternoon. The PCR test looks for the precise RNA for
the SARS CoV-2 -- in other words, the genetic material specific for the virus
that causes COVID-19," the announcement stated. "The PCR test is
understood to be extremely sensitive, also as specific, for the virus. The PCR
tests for the Governor, First Lady, and staff were run twice. They came back
negative the primary time and came back negative once they were run on a second
diagnostic platform."
DeWine Tweeted Thursday That He Is Not Experiencing Symptoms
at This Point.
"As a part of the quality protocol to greet President
Trump on the tarmac in Cleveland, I took a COVID test. I tested positive. I
even have no symptoms at this point. I'm following protocol and can quarantine
reception for subsequent 14 days," he wrote.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted was also tested for coronavirus Thursday
before Trump's visit and tested negative, DeWine's office said.
Landing in Cleveland shortly after the news broke, Trump
wished DeWine well in light of his diagnosis and told the gang gathered at the
airport that DeWine may be a "great guy" who has "done an
incredible job."
"We want to wish him the simplest, he'll be fine,"
Trump said.
DeWine was the newest politician to check positive for
coronavirus shortly before they were scheduled to satisfy with Trump. Last
week, GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert, who has frequently refused to wear a mask, tested
positive for the virus shortly before he was scheduled to fly aboard Air Force
One with Trump to Texas. He’s the second known governor to check positive for coronavirus,
after Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced in July he had contracted Covid-19.
DeWine's diagnosis is especially notable as he has taken
aggressive measures to slow the spread of coronavirus in his state, including
issuing a stay-at-home order, a mask mandate, closing schools and postponing
the state primary. His warnings about the seriousness of the pandemic early and
following the recommendation of health experts have differed from Trump's
repeated downplaying of the virus and propensity to contradict the doctors on
his coronavirus task force. DeWine has also taken a slower approach than other
Republican governors in reopening his state.
The Ohio Democratic Party said it's saddened to listen to
about DeWine's positive coronavirus test result and offered support for the
governor.
"We skills hard he's been working to stay Ohioans safe,
and this is often only one more reminder that this virus can impact
everyone," the party's chairman David Pepper said during a statement.
"As fellow Ohioans, we stand with and support our governor and his family
at this point.”
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