• Effective Friday, July 31 if approved
• Says decision on hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 should be between a doctor and a patient
• Ohio will hold November 2020 elections

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has requested the Ohio Liquor Control Commission to call a meeting to consider enacting an emergency rule related to liquor sales.

“The Liquor Control Commission will hold their emergency meeting tomorrow (Friday, July 31) at 9 a.m. If the emergency statewide administrative rule is approved, I intend to sign an Executive Order that would make it effective Friday night,” said Governor Mike DeWine.

“Shutting down for a second time would be devastating to Ohio’s bars and restaurants. We are not going to do that today. I am mindful of the economic impact of these tough circumstances, but we must slow the spread of COVID19.”

According to him, “I continue to have grave concerns about the spread of coronavirus at establishments that serve alcohol for onsite consumption.  We have seen outbreaks associated with bars across Ohio including Toledo, Cleveland, and Columbus.”

“The problem is, bars, by their nature, lend themselves to a revolving door of people in close contact, oftentimes indoors. Patrons either stay at one location, sometimes for hours or bar hop. Either way, they interact with many different people – especially the younger crowd.”

Also, Governor DeWine said wearing of masks has slowed down the spread of the coronavirus in urban counties, but more rural counties were recording significant increase.

‘The good news is that more people are wearing masks in our urban counties and we are seeing the spread slow. The bad news is our more rural counties are turning orange color with significantly more spread taking place.

“Today’s 1,733 new cases reported is the highest daily count we have ever reported. This is not good news. Today we have 1,049 individuals who are currently hospitalized compared to 1,017 on July 17th, so you can see the overall trend here continues to steadily increase. But we are seeing fewer people coming to emergency rooms for COVID19, so that is a good sign.”

Meanwhile, Governor Mike DeWine has urged the Board of Pharmacy and the State Medical Board of Ohio to halt their new rule prohibiting the selling or dispensing of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19.

“I agree with the statement from Dr. Steven Hahn, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, that the decision about prescribing hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 should be between a doctor and a patient.  Therefore, I am asking the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to halt their new rule prohibiting the selling or dispensing of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19.”

On the November 3, 2020 general elections holding in Ohio, Governor DeWine said “there is absolutely no reason to think that this election cannot be held on that day. This is not what this President can do. If there was going to be a change it will have to be a change by congress and states. I see no reason that that will occur.”

“It is hard for me to envision a situation other than a natural disaster for example. We have four weeks to vote. I don’t think we have a problem. The election is going to be held. One thing about our system is that we hold elections, we accept the results, even when we don’t like the result where it is, and that is what make our country great,” said Governor DeWine.

“We have a system that depends to vigorous participation by both parties. Ohioans know how to run an election. The local boards will do a very good job in running elections.

We are not going to have a problem in running this election. Yes, we have to be vigilant. The system in Ohio is working exceedingly very well.