Recovery Phase, Inmate Testing

Governor DeWine reiterated today that Ohio's recovery phase will be not start and end overnight. As Ohio begins to reopen, Governor DeWine stressed the need to balance:

Compliance with public health measures;
Implementation of safeguards in business; and
Protections for the most vulnerable Ohioans.

PRISON UPDATE:

Comprehensive testing of inmates has begun at Marion Correctional Institution, Pickaway Correctional Institution, and Franklin Medical Center. Ohio is believed to be the first and only state in the country to conduct comprehensive testing in a state prison setting.

With comprehensive testing at these facilities, the Ohio Department of Health expects higher reports of COVID-19 as the testing identifies positive individuals who otherwise are asymptomatic or would recover without a test. For example, the testing of one prison dorm in Marion found that out of 152 inmates, 39 percent tested positive for COVID-19 although they did not show any symptoms.

Governor DeWine also announced that he denied 84 commutation requests and approved seven.

CURRENT OHIO DATA:

There are 9,107 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Ohio and 418 confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths. A total of 2,424 people have been hospitalized, including 740 admissions to intensive care units. In-depth data can be accessed by visiting coronavirus.ohio.gov.