Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is “correct” in saying Ohio could be on track to be the next Texas in terms of COVID-19 spread.
Fauci’s words, seen as a warning to many people in the Midwest, came during an interview on “Good Morning America” Tuesday morning.
I asked DeWine to respond to Fauci’s comments during his 2:00 PM press conference later that day.
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Fauci mentioned a number of other Midwestern states, including Kentucky and Indiana.
“The spotlight should be on the Midwest,” DeWine agreed Tuesday. “Today I had the opportunity to talk to the governor of Kentucky, as well as Indiana yesterday. The three of us talk every week … And we’re all concerned, we’re all concerned about what’s going on in our states … We’re seeing hospitalizations go up, we’re seeing cases at a historically high level and so, yeah, we’re very very concerned. I do believe that we’ve seen some progress in regard to people wearing masks, I believe that has resulted in some of these better numbers, and I think if we all do that … we’re going to be a lot better off.”
DeWine then compared Fauci’s comments to similar words from Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator, while in Columbus over the weekend.
“The warning is heeded, the warning is correct, and the doctor is not the only one that’s saying that. Dr. Birx said the same thing to us this week,” said DeWine.
DeWine also said during his press briefing that he will be back Thursday with more to say about bars in the state -- as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
