Gov. Mike DeWine rejects a proposal from a Republican lawmaker to cancel the state of emergency order issued in March as the coronavirus pandemic was first beginning.
The bill from Rep. Diane Grendell (R-Chesterland) would allow businesses and hospitals to return to full capacity and all schools to resume in-person learning with no masks or social distancing required. The bill has seven Republican co-sponsors, including some vocal critics of the state's COVID-19 response.
DeWine said he respects Grendell, but the virus is still spreading in Ohio. He says passing a bill claiming there’s no emergency won’t help.
“I certainly do not support that. We have an emergency," DeWine said. "And when we're done with the emergency, we'll be done with emergency. And I can't wait."
DeWine has said he will reject any bill that limits public health orders, and has already vetoed one that would have lowered the fines for violating those orders. However, he did sign into law last week a bill that prevents public officials from closing houses of worship or moving election dates.
A lawsuit was filed earlier this month in federal court to lift the state of emergency.
