Ohio Coronavirus: 'We Save Our Economy By First Saving Lives'

Patch
·3 min read

This article originally appeared on the Cleveland Patch

The number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in Ohio has risen to 564 as of Tuesday afternoon and two more deaths have been reported in the state, bringing the death toll from COVID-19 to eight. At least 145 people have been hospitalized due to the virus in Ohio.

Tuesday's case count represents an increase of 122 cases from Monday.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine began his daily press conference by airing a commercial featuring prominent Ohioans that remind residents to practice social distancing and lessen the spread of the disease.

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DeWine addressed President Donald Trump's recent comments stressing the need to reopen the economy despite input from public health officials who say moving too quickly would be detrimental to fighting the disease. Trump said on Tuesday he wanted the economy reopened and "raring to go" by Easter.

DeWine said he shared the president's frustration but the truth is that protecting people and protecting the economy are not mutually exclusive.

"In fact one depends on the other," he said.

"The fact is that we save our economy by first saving lives," DeWine said. "And we have to do it and we have to do it in that order."

DeWine said that if Ohio's hospitals get overwhelmed, residents don't get the care they need and if nurses and doctors get sick, it would be a personal tragedy and not something that would be helpful to rebuilding the economy.

"Let me also say that when people are dying, when people don't feel safe, this economy's not gonna come back," De Wine said.

The governor stressed the need to do everything possible to prepare for the wave that is coming, referecing the anticipated surge in coronavirus cases that is expected.

Dr. Amy Acton, the state's director of health, shared statistics and data during Tuesday's press conference that demonstrated where Ohio was on the curve projecting the disease's spread over time.

Along with enforcing social distancing policies, Acton and DeWine both discussed other measures being taken, including increasing the capacity of the health care system and conserving personal protective equipment for health care workers.

Tuesday is the first day for Ohio's "stay at home" order. The order directs non-essential businesses to close and Ohioans can only leave their home only if it is absolutely necessary.

The order bars public and private gatherings. All gatherings of 10 or more people are specifically prohibited. All entertainment venues have been ordered closed, including zoos, movie theaters, water parks, aquariums and amusement parks. Enforcement of the order can be carried out by state and local law enforcement.

Confirmed cases of the new coronavirus are now in 49 Ohio counties.

Below is the breakdown of coronavirus cases by county in Ohio: Ashland (1), Ashtabula (3), Belmont (2), Butler (18), Carroll (3), Champaign (1), Clark (2), Clermont (5), Clinton (1), Columbiana (3), Coshocton (3), Crawford (1), Cuyahoga (167), Darke (1), Defiance (2), Delaware (11), Erie (1), Fairfield (2), Franklin (75), Gallia (1), Geauga (5), Greene (3), Hamilton (38), Hancock (1), Highland (1), Huron (2), Knox (1), Lake (11), Licking (2), Logan (2), Lorain (30), Lucas (11), Madison (1), Mahoning (28), Marion (4), Medina (15), Miami (19), Montgomery (10), Portage (4), Richland (4), Sandusky (1), Stark (13), Summit (36), Trumbull (4), Tuscarawas (3), Union (2), Warren (7), Washington (1), Wood (2)

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