OHIO — Gov. Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine have been exposed to COVID-19, according to a press release from DeWine's office Wednesday.

What You Need To Know

  • The DeWines have canceled all in-person events until the end of their quarantine

  • They have tested negative but will continue to be tested daily

  • Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said it's an example of how easy it is to get exposed to the virus still, a little less than two years into the pandemic

They were in close contact with two staffers tested positive for the virus recently. The DeWines will be in quarantine through Sunday and won't attend any in-person events.

Both of them are fully vaccinated, have received their boosters and also tested negative for COVID-19. They currently have no symptoms.

They said they will continue to test daily for the virus until they are out of quarantine.

Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff said Wednesday during a press conference that the DeWine's getting exposed is one of the "best illustrations" of why health officials are urging for vaccinations and masks with a high transmission of the disease. 

"The governor has done all of that, so he is acting out of what is clearly an abundance of caution and not only meeting but exceeding quarantine reccomendations, which is the right thing to do. As a leader, he is showing the way. But I think what his exposure demonstrates is that anybody can be exposed, including any vaccinated person," Vanderhoff said. 

On Tuesday, the Ohio Department of Health reported 3,917 new COVID-19 cases and 236 deaths since Friday. 

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