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Ohio House Speaker Not Persuaded Of Need For Masks

Ohio Public Radio

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s Wednesday evening speech seemed to be a warning to Ohioans to wear masks or risk another round of shutdowns and closures. Republican Ohio House Speaker Larry Householde  has been critical of some of DeWine’s COVID-19 responses. But Householder says he thought the speech was good. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.

Householder said he talked to DeWine the night before the speech, but didn’t pressure him not to order shutdowns or a statewide mask mandate. But Householder admits DeWine’s plea to wear masks isn’t persuasive to him.

“I think that in many ways a mask provides a false sense of security. I may get closer to you than 10 feet because I'm wearing a mask and you're wearing a mask, and not necessarily is that going to provide that protection.”

Householder says he stays 10 feet away from people, though experts advise social distancing and masks. Democratic Representative Stephanie Howse has revealed she has COVID-19 and Householder says three House staffers have also tested positive, but he says he won’t require masks when the House comes back in September.

 

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