Ohio GOP Gov. Mike DeWine said on Sunday there are estimates of 100,000 undiagnosed cases of coronavirus in the state, and it “some may never know” they have the fast-spreading illness.
In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” DeWine said the experts on warning of the quick and wide spread of COVID-19.
“What the experts tell us is that we'll end up in Ohio and across the country with 40% to 70% of our population who actually gets this,” he said, adding the estimate of 100,000 who are undiagnosed “was to illustrate that we've got a lot of people walking around in Ohio who are positive, who have not been tested. Some don't know it. Some may never know it.”
“The most important thing I think we can do is, as they say, flatten this curve and spread this out over a period of time,” he added. “That's why we closed the schools, that's why we issued last week the order, no more people coming together in more than 100. We've closed the casinos. We're doing the things to try and keep people apart.”
According to DeWine, the “odds are” the three-week school closure now in effect in Ohio will be extended for a lot longer.
“We've informed the superintendents, while we've closed schools for three weeks, that the odds are this is going to go on a lot longer and … it would not surprise me at all if schools did not open again this year,” he said.
He said Ohio is following medical advice on a travel ban within the state.
“It's important that all of us rely on the medical experts and the modelling and what they tell us,” he said. “We're seeing more and more businesses that are closing, doing a lot of things remotely. So these are all things that business can do, all things that individuals can do.
“What I have learned from talking with the experts is, it's not just one thing. You've got to do a lot of different things. You've got to do them early. That's what we're trying to do in Ohio. “
In a separate interview on NBC News’ “Meet The Press,” DeWine said the state is also looking at closing down bars and restaurants.
“We are certainly looking at that,” he said. “We started off last week closing the schools. We reduced the number of people gathered together to 100. You know, we have restricted access to our nursing homes, to our prisons. So we are taking tough steps … Every day counts so much and you just, you cannot wait. You have got to move very, very quickly.”
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