Ohio gov bug free
Tests positive before Don meet, negative later
Just hours before he was supposed to meet with President Trump, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.
As part of standard protocol, the 73-year-old Republican governor took the test ahead of plans to greet Trump on the tarmac of a Cleveland airport, according to a statement from his office.
“Gov. DeWine tested positive. Governor DeWine has no symptoms at the present time,” said the statement, which was issued as Trump was on board Air Force One en route to Ohio.
Several hours later, DeWine and his wife, Fran DeWine, tested negative, as did staff members. They underwent a different type of test in Columbus; one considered to be more accurate than the rapid-result test which showed DeWine to be positive for COVID-19 just ahead of the planned meeting with
Trump in Cleveland.
Speaking on the tarmac where DeWine was supposed to meet him, Trump said the governor will “be fine.”
“Our great governor, governor of Ohio just tested positive just here, and we wanted to wish him the best,” Trump told a small crowd of supporters, many of whom were not wearing face masks despite standing close together.
DeWine was one of the only Republican governors to early on encourage social distancing and usage of face masks amid the pandemic.
Still, Ohio is seeing an uptick in coronavirus infections, with the state approaching 100,000 confirmed cases.
DeWine’s deputy, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, was also tested, but got negative results, according to the governor’s office. Husted joined Trump on the tarmac in DeWine’s place.
Trump toured a Whirlpool manufacturing plant during his Ohio trip.