COLUMBUS — Gov. Mike DeWine, who had to take a COVID-19 test before interacting with President Trump during a visit to Ohio on Thursday, has tested positive for coronavirus.
The 73-year-old governor, who has staged almost daily televised press conferences about COVID-19 since the pandemic reached the state in March, is returning to Columbus.
The governor’s office sent an email with the news and DeWine also posted about it on his Twitter account.
DeWine had planned to greet Trump upon his arrival at Burke Lakefront Airport in Air Force One. Testing for the virus is part of the standard protocol to greet the president.
An email from the governor’s office said DeWine has no symptoms, but will quarantine at his home in Cedarville for the next 14 days.
Lt. Governor Jon Husted also took the COVID-19 test today as part of the protocol to greet the president. He tested negative for the virus.
Trump is coming to Ohio to tour a Whirlpool manufacturing plant in Clyde, participate in a roundtable event with supporters and attend a fundraising committee reception in the evening.
Trump to visit Whirlpool factory in Clyde on Thursday
“The President wishes Governor DeWine a speedy and full recovery and commends the great job he’s doing for the great state of Ohio,” a White House spokesman said in a statement.
Trump was scheduled to arrive in Cleveland at 1:05 p.m. and DeWine was to meet him on the tarmac. The governor was not planning to attend the other presidential events today.
DeWine had postponed his normal 2 p.m. Thursday press conference until Friday so that he could greet Trump in Cleveland.
It’s not immediately known where the governor may have contracted the virus.
