COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts says the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the city is likely due to expanded testing rather than a second wave of the virus.

What You Need To Know


  • The city reported 136 new cases Wednesday — the most of any day since May 2

  • Testing has recently expanded in Columbus

  • The health commissioner says testing explains the rise in cases

The city reported 136 new cases Wednesday — the most it has reported since May 2. That follows a roughly 10-day period Roberts says marked a “slight increase” from the case numbers the city had been seeing since new cases peaked in early May.

As cases spike in Sun Belt states that reopened their economies on early timelines, experts are keeping an eye on states across the country, including Ohio, to see if the outbreak will worsen. Gov. Mike DeWine has said counties in Southwest Ohio are experiencing “worrisome” spikes in case numbers. 

DeWine wrote in a tweet that case numbers show a “big increase” and suggested the spread is getting worse.

“We have increased testing, but we do not believe this increase in cases is completely due to testing. Hospitalizations are also up,” he wrote.

But Roberts is not sounding the alarm on a second wave in Columbus.

“We've been fortunate here that we have not seen what some of our other communities across the nation have seen, like in Florida, Texas and Arizona,” Roberts says.

She says she expected the uptick in cases after the city began offering free testing to everyone. In fact, Roberts was braced for an even more significant spike in cases following the expansion of testing.

Until this month, testing in Columbus had only been available to individuals who met Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, which prioritized first responders and patients with symptoms. Now, no matter the person's occupation or if they're symptomatic, they can get a test without a doctor's order. 

Following the protests in Columbus after the killing of George Floyd, health officials began to worry about COVID-19 cases increasing because of the demonstrations. That has not been the case, Roberts says. Contact tracers have not linked any significant amount of cases to the protests.

For the most part, Roberts saysshe has been pleased with how residents have been following COVID-19 guidance from state and local officials, but she said more people should be wearing masks. She is also displeased with those who are holding gatherings of more than 10 people.

Roberts says she has supported DeWine’s reopening decisions so far. She feels comfortable with the prevention measures in place for the sectors of the economy that are open. Further reopenings, however, may have to be put on pause if the city continues to see this number of new cases, she said.

“I have concerns about opening anything else up at this time based on the numbers we're seeing here locally,” Roberts says.