Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Thursday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus. DeWine was tested as part of a standard protocol as he prepared to greet Donald Trump on the tarmac at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland.
“Ohio Governor Mike DeWine took a test for COVID-19 as part of the standard protocol to greet President Donald Trump on the tarmac at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland,” the governor’s office said in a statement. “Governor DeWine tested positive. Governor DeWine has no symptoms at the present time.”
DeWine will return to Columbus where he will be tested again, as will his wife Fran DeWine who also has no symptoms, according to the statement.
The 73 year old governor has a history of respiratory issues which puts him at a higher risk of developing complications from the disease. According to the Toledo Blade, he was treated for symptoms of pneumonia in 2001 and DeWine was hospitalized twice over thanksgiving week in 2000 for asthma, a condition he had since he was 25 years old and takes medication through inhalers.
DeWine is the second governor to test positive for the coronavirus after Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt tested positive last month.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tests positive for coronavirus.
