CLEVELAND — Governor Mike DeWine did not hold his customary COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday due to Election Day, but he made time to join 3News' Russ Mitchell for a one-on-one interview during 'What's New.'
DeWine's appearance came as Ohio reached yet another new high in daily coronavirus cases on Tuesday. 4,229 people in the state tested positive in the last 24 hours, 33 more deaths were reported, and the testing positivity level in Ohio is at its highest level since May.
"We're looking at things to do," DeWine said. "But quite candidly, we need to wear masks more as we see the spread coming from people letting their guard down when they're among family and friends."
The governor didn't elaborate when pressed by Mitchell about what specific measures he is considering. "What we're trying to do is to get people to understand the gravity of the situation. The spread is in every single county. We're looking at other things we can do and we'll be talking about them on Thursday and Friday."
DeWine says there are no reports of any major election issues on Tuesday. He does believe that it is possible that we may know who won the presidential race in Ohio by the end of the evening. "I think it's going to be a close race. I think the president's going to win," he said. DeWine added that he believes that Joe Biden will likely have an early lead due to absentee and early voting, meaning President Trump will have to make up the difference from votes cast on Election Day.
When asked if he's ever seen an election where the state (or country) is this divided, DeWine stated no. "We're more divided as a country than we've ever been. When the sun comes up tomorrow morning, this election is over with. We need to pull together."
As far as President Trump's claim that the country is more unified than ever before. "I'm for the president, I love who he's put on the Supreme Court. I think that he's been very good for the economy, but I don't know what he meant by that," DeWine stated.
You can watch the full interview in the player above or on our YouTube player below: