COLUMBUS (AP) — A conservative lawmaker has taken his frustration over Ohio’s coronavirus public health orders to a new level by demanding that criminal charges be filed against fellow Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.
John Becker (R-Cincinnati) made his demand Monday in Clermont Municipal Court under a provision of state law allowing private citizen affidavits.
Becker says DeWine has exceeded the authority of state law and the state and U.S. constitutions in issuing orders restricting Ohioans’ activities to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
A county prosecutor swiftly rejected the request for charges, saying state policy decisions should not be criminalized. DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney calls the demand absurd.
The state reported 1,105 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 Tuesday for a total of 152,907 with 4,783 deaths. There are currently 16,416 active cases, 219 more than Monday.
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DeWine is welcoming the news that the Trump administration is shipping millions of rapid coronavirus tests from Abbot Laboratories to states this week.
“We appreciate the Trump Administration providing millions of these innovative tests to Ohioans and our administration will continue to work on a plan to best incorporate them into our overall testing strategy in the coming days. Making a rapid, low-cost test available, demonstrates Abbott’s ingenuity and addresses our critical need to rapidly identify who has the virus. By knowing who is COVID-19-positive, especially among those in vulnerable communities, we can take immediate steps to limit the spread and control its impact,” DeWine said.
The federal government aims to ship 100 million tests to states over the next several weeks to dramatically expand testing comes just five weeks before the November elections as Trump continues to face criticism for his handling of the coronavirus.
The BinaxNOW tests from Abbott Laboratories can be used outside of medical facilities but experts warn they are less accurate and harder to track than older laboratory tests.
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The Columbus Metropolitan Library announced Monday that all 23 of its locations are now open for browsing and other limited services.
Customers can browse shelves to pick out books, pick up items on hold, get Grab & Go Books, return books, use a computer for up to 60 minutes, print, copy, scan and fax, officials said.
Face coverings are required, except for children under 5. Disposable face masks are available for customers.