COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is reviewing options for the state to sue over President Joe Biden's plan to require vaccination, or weekly testing for employees of companies with more than 100 people, Gov. Mike DeWine told reporters Monday. 

The governor recently spoke with Yost about possible litigation against the federal mandate, DeWine said ahead of a restricting meeting in Warrensville Heights, a Cleveland suburb.

Several Republican governors have stated their intentions to file lawsuits against the mandate, as has the Republican National Committee.

DeWine said he fears the vaccination policy will “kick up this dust storm of politics and partisanship,” which he said could distract from messages about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. 

“My concern about the Biden proposal, and the order, is that it just takes us down this political pathway that everybody kind of gets their armor up, and their suits on and everything else, and we ought to try to really stay focused on the science,” he said.

Biden announced mandates Thursday that will apply to around 100 million U.S. employees, including federal employees and most health care workers, in addition to those employed by large businesses. 

On Friday, the president responded to discussions of litigation, telling his opponents, “have at it.”

DeWine said he will continue to make the argument to Ohioans for vaccination, mentioning that he plans to address the state on COVID-19 during a press conference Tuesday. He said it’s important that residents make up their own minds about vaccination. 

Ohio’s COVID-19 numbers are at an “unbelievably high level,” but the governor said he is encouraged by the fact about 10,000 more residents are getting vaccinated each day. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, Ohio’s vaccination rate ranks 39th of U.S. states. State data shows that 53% of Ohioans have received at least one vaccine dose.