Amy Acton steps down as state health department director

COLUMBUS — Dr. Amy Acton said Thursday she is stepping down immediately as director of the state health department but will continue to serve Gov. Mike DeWine as his chief health adviser. Also during Thursday's DeWine press conference, the governor announced that everyone in Ohio can now obtain a COVID-19 test, even if they have no symptoms for the disease, and explained how to get a test. Lance Himes will be interim director of the state health department, a role he's previously served in. The governor said he's grateful to Acton for her service and said he believes she helped save many lives in Ohio. "It's true not all heroes wear capes. Some of them wear a white coat," DeWine said. Acton explained that she has been getting up at 4 a.m. each day and going to bed late at night as she attempts to deal with three different jobs: running normal programs at the state health department; running the state health department during the biggest pandemic in decades; and serving as DeWine's top adviser on COVID-19 issues. She said she looks forward to focusing on being the governor's main health advisor. Acton became the state health department director in February 2019, shortly after DeWine took office. The director of the state health department usually is not a household name, but Acton became one of Ohio's best-known officials this year as the pandemic gathered steam. She was widely praised and admired but also targeted by critics who attacked her on social media and criticized her in demonstrations. Some protests even took place outside her home. Acton admitted all of the attention was a new experience for her. "I didn't run for election," she noted. But she said she has been intensely focused on the need to protect Ohioans and save as many lives as possible. COVID-19 testing has become more widely available in Ohio. For example, the Erie County Health Department provided tests last week for anyone who wanted one in partnership with Family Health Services and Firelands Regional Medical Center. DeWine said Thursday he wants to make sure everyone knows tests are widely available. "Anyone who wants a test in the state of Ohio now can get a test," DeWine said. Testing is available at many Ohio pharmacies, including CVS and Rite Aid, and at community health clinics. To learn more, go to the state's COVID-19 website at coronavirus.ohio.gov and click "Testing and Community Health Centers," DeWine said. The Erie County Health Department also continues to offer testing, with no out-of-pocket expense, to anyone who lives or works in the county. The governor reported that Ohio's transmission rate for COVID-19, known as the RO or "R naught," was as high as 1.9 in March, meaning that every sick person gave the disease to almost two people. The transmission rate fell below 1 at the beginning of June, showing a decline in the pandemic, although it has since gone up a bit, DeWine said. The current number for northwest Ohio, which includes Sandusky, is .93 but that figure is trending upward, he said. DeWine said the state has issued new guidelines for staying safe in houses of worship such as churches, synagogues and mosques. "We are not mandating anything," he said. "These are just suggestions." He noted that in Ohio, religious services were never banned, although many churches adopted practices to keep churchgoers safe. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted reported jobless claims have fallen in Ohio. He said that for the sixth straight week renewals of unemployment claims have declined. "As we reopen, people are going back to work," he said. Husted said $8.5 million in training grant funds are going to local job and family services employment offices to help people get training for jobs so they can reenter the workforce. Erie County had 185 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic as of Thursday, up two from Wednesday, and 20 deaths, an increase of one, according to the Erie County Health Department. Other county totals: Ottawa, 111 cases, 21 deaths; Sandusky, 102 cases, 13 deaths, and Huron, 71 cases, one death. Ohio has had 40,004 cases and 2,490 deaths. The U.S. has surpassed 2 million cases since the pandemic began and stood at 2,012,767 cases and 113,467 deaths Thursday, while the world has had 7,730,550 cases and 418,392 deaths. The U.S. has about 4.25 percent of the world's population but about 27 percent of COVID-19 deaths.