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CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is encouraging Ohioans to continue wearing masks after revealing that he tested positive for coronavirus.

He took a test as part of a standard protocol to greet President Donald Trump when Air Force One lands in Cleveland. The Governor’s Office says his test was administered at Case Western Reserve University.

The governor did not have any symptoms, according to his office.

DeWine held a video conference with the media at 4:30 p.m. He said he is feeling alright and plans to continue working while in quarantine.

He encouraged Ohioans to continue wearing masks, citing that the coronavirus is still very contagious.

“It is very contagious. It is here. It lives among us,” said DeWine. “You are always trying to improve your odds. Wearing a mask improves your odds, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get it…This is very dangerous, very contagious.”

The Governor shared that he does not know where he got the virus, reiterating that every person he has seen wore a mask, as did he.

He said officials know that masks help and he hopes that people understand you can still get COVID-19 even if you are wearing a mask and being very careful. However, masks help reduce that chance.

DeWine returned to Columbus and did not meet with Trump. He and First Lady Fran DeWine, who also has no symptoms, were both tested. (See more on his arrival to the Governor’s Mansion in the video, below, from our sister station, WCMH.)

They have not yet received the results from those tests, as they were not rapid tests. DeWine plans to follow protocol for COVID-19 and quarantine at his home in Cedarville for the next 14 days.

Lt. Governor Jon Husted also took the COVID-19 test to greet the president and tested negative. He attended Trump’s event.

The Ohio Department of Health reports there are 97,471 coronavirus cases in the state.

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  • Several people who work closely with DeWine were tested. Results are not back yet as those were not rapid tests.
  • DeWine says he feels fine besides having a headache.
  • He and Fran have alerted their seven children that he tested positive.
  • DeWine has not had any discussions with doctors about his recovery at this time.
  • He is also not sure where he contracted the virus at this time. He and Fran have been very careful about who they see and have been staying in their family home, not the Governor’s mansion.
  • DeWine has not been regularly tested. He was tested prior to the president’s visit and when he demonstrated the testing process during a news conference. He says he hasn’t had any symptoms and therefore did not feel the need to get tested.
  • “It is very contagious. It is here. It lives among us,” said DeWine. “You are always trying to improve your odds. Wearing a mask improves your odds, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get it…This is very dangerous, very contagious.”
  • DeWine was given a test that was arranged by the White House. He said that’s all he knows about. It was a rapid test and he got the results back right away.
  • DeWine says officials know that masks help. He hopes that people understand you can still get COVID-19 when you are wearing a mask and being very careful, however masks help reduce the risk.
  • DeWine’s second test taken today was not a rapid test and the results are not in yet.
  • Lt. Gov. Husted tested negative and continued on to the event with President Trump.
  • DeWine says he will continue to work even while he is in quarantine for at least 14 days. He says he spends most days working from home anyway and, as of right now, he doesn’t believe his work will be impacted. However, he acknowledges the virus impacts different people in different ways and will take it day by day.
  • “Everyone I have been around has had a mask on and I have had a mask on…I don’t know where I got it.” -DeWine
  • DeWine says testing is evolving. Officials are learning more about the virus and testing every day.
  • “We have pushed as hard as I know how to get more testing,” said DeWine. “I have talked to Senator Portman, Senator Brown, the White House…We have to do more. We need tests quicker and we need more of them…A lot is coming and we are going to keep pushing.”
  • “My experience in life is that you learn from every experience and I am sure this will be an experience,” he said. “I’m sure I will learn from it and look at it not just from the eyes of a patient but also the eyes of the Governor.”
  • “Most of the work I have done is right here.” DeWine says he thinks he will be able to work effectively from home as he has been doing for quite some time now.
  • DeWine says he has asthma but it is under control and he takes an inhaler regularly. This condition, plus his age, make him a more “at risk” coronavirus patient.

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