Flashback: Ohio's initial COVID-19 response was 5 years ago
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
OSU students wear masks while studying in the campus library in 2020. It's been five years since Ohio first responded to COVID-19. Photo: Ty Wright/Bloomberg via Getty Images
On this date five years ago, state leaders held one of the first COVID-19 press conferences at the Ohio Statehouse.
Flashback: Sans masks and social distancing, Gov. Mike DeWine, then-health director Amy Acton and others spoke mainly of new virus testing capabilities.
Friction point: Ohio had no confirmed cases at that time.
- This led one reporter to raise questions about government "fearmongering" and ask, "Is coronavirus dangerous enough to warrant all this talk?"
What they said: Acton called it an "unprecedented time."
- "I think it is something we all are taking very seriously," she continued. "We have not had an outbreak like this in a long time. We have not seen borders close. This is something different and it's gonna change our ordinary lives."
- "What's important is we have a plan," DeWine said.
By the numbers: Since then, Ohio has had nearly 4 million confirmed cases of COVID, 160,000 hospitalizations and 45,000 deaths, per the state dashboard, which is still active.
Between the lines: Acton was virtually unknown to the general public at that point, but would soon become famous that spring for her appearances at the governor's daily briefings.
- She left the role months later and is now running for governor.
