Ohio GOP Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday Ohio’s gradual reopening is a “dangerous time” as lockdown-weary residents congregate outside for the first time in weeks.
In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” DeWine said he’s “concerned” about photos of people not maintaining at least six feet from one another.
“This is really probably the most crucial time, the most dangerous time, because we are opening back up, because we have to open back up,” he said.
“That creates more exposure, more opportunity for this virus to spread,” he said. “So people have to add that extra layer. We're asking them to put masks on, do all the things that everyone now knows you have to do to keep that separated and to slow this down.
“If you look at our numbers, we're at a plateau, candidly. We've been at a plateau for a month in regards to hospitalizations, and the same way with regard to new deaths. We're trying to do two things at once. And we're working at it.”
He said people will have to continue to wear masks when they are outdoors, and will have to maintain social distancing as the state reopens.
“Ultimately it's going to come to Ohioans doing what Ohioans have done for the last two months, and that is, you know, by and large, done exactly what they should do, try to keep the distance,” he said.
“We're encouraging more people to wear masks, as I said. But it's going to be really determined by what we do in the next month or so, what the fall looks like, when we hope to be able to open school, is going to depend on what we're doing now and in the next month or so.”
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