Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wishes President Donald J. Trump had "a more happy relationship with masks," he said Wednesday.
During an interview on NPR's "All Things Considered," DeWine told anchor Mary Louise Kelly "I certainly wish the president had a more happy relationship with masks. We know so much more today than we knew in March. We now know that these masks really work."
Kelly pressed the governor when she asked how he reconciles his steadfast belief that wearing a mask and social distancing can help stop coronavirus spread with President Trump's more skeptical take on the issue. In the weeks leading up to Election Day, the incumbent held multiple campaign rallies packing hundreds of supporters into close proximity, often not masked.
DeWine's remarks came just one day after Ohio saw the most new cases reported in a single day -- 4,229 -- since the pandemic began. Tuesday’s number represents a steep spike and the first day the state has ever reported over 4,000 cases in one 24-hour span. Ohio quickly broke that record Thursday, reporting 4,961 new cases.
Later in the interview, DeWine spoke to the growing challenges involved in keeping Ohioans diligent as the pandemic enters its ninth month.
"People are sick of it. And there's a fatigue that has set in," he said. "But we got to get through this. And if we let this virus run wild, it's going to be horrible consequences and just gut-wrenching things for and great tragedy for many, many people."
Previous reporting by WCPO real-time editor Sarah Walsh contributed to this story.
