COLUMBUS – Governor Mike DeWine says, to the best of his knowledge, the organizers of the Arnold Sports Festival are complying with a state order prohibiting spectators from attending the four-day event that began Thursday at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Ohio Expo Center and other venues around Columbus.
Ohio’s health director issued the order restricting most spectators from the annual Arnold Sports Festival over coronavirus concerns.
Thursday’s order is the latest development in a back-and-forth debate with organizers of the festival founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The order limits spectators to parents or guardians of participating minors and also allows attendance at some events Friday and Saturday.
Arnold organizers say they are being unfairly singled out but will abide by the order.
Under an agreement between festival organizers and state and local officials announced Tuesday certain single ticketed events would be closed to all but athletes, family and close friends while eight events on Friday and Saturday night would be open to spectators.
Several events, including the Arnold Fitness Expo trade show and the Kids and Teens Expo, were canceled altogether.
Arnold officials said Wednesday that spectators would be admitted to several events and DeWine said they refused to change their minds unless they received an order from the state.
Acton issued her order Thursday morning prohibiting spectators other than family and friends of the competitors from attending events other than admit spectators to the finals of the Fitness International, Figure International, Women’s Physique and Classic Physique Friday and Saturday’s finals of the Men’s Physique, Arnold Classic, the Arnold Strongman Classic and the Bikini International.
All events are scheduled at the Battelle Grand at the Columbus Convention Center.
Acton also reported that test kits from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had been delivered to the state Thursday, meaning that test results on potential patients in Ohio could be returned in hours instead of days.
There are still no confirmed cases of the COVID-19 in Ohio.
The U.S. Senate on Thursday followed passed an $8.3 billion measure to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak in hopes of reassuring a fearful public and accelerating the government’s response.
The money, some of which will probably end up in Ohio, would pay for a multifaceted attack on a virus that is spreading more widely every day, sending financial markets spiraling, disrupting travel and potentially threatening the U.S. economy’s decade-long expansion.
“While there have been no confirmed cases in Ohio to date, this funding will help Ohio respond to any potential outbreaks and will expedite the development of a vaccine and treatment options, increase the production of and access to diagnostic tests, and help states and municipalities fund response efforts,” Republican Ohio Senator Rob Portman said following the vote.
Thursday’s sweeping vote sends the bill to the White House for President Donald Trump’s signature.