Jump directly to the content
GOV CLEARED

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine now tests NEGATIVE for coronavirus just hours after positive result scuppered Trump meeting

A SECOND coronavirus test for Governor Mike DeWine has come back negative, hours after he tested positive and scrapped a meeting with President Donald Trump.

The gov announced he tested negative for in a statement on Twitter Thursday evening.

Ohio Gov Mike DeWine has tested negative for coronavirus hours after his first test came back with a positive result
7
Ohio Gov Mike DeWine has tested negative for coronavirus hours after his first test came back with a positive resultCredit: AP:Associated Press

"In a second COVID-19 test administered today in Columbus, Governor Mike DeWine has tested negative for COVID-19," he said.

First lady Fran DeWine and staff members also tested negative.

DeWine tested positive for the virus on Thursday morning using a rapid test, which was part of the protocol to greet President at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland.

He said he was asymptomatic and had planned to quarantine at home for the next two weeks.

DeWine then returned to Columbus and took a second COVID-19 test from Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center called a polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, test that came back negative late Thursday night.

His first test was an antigen test, according to the .

The second test - the PCR test - is known as the more sensitive and accurate of the two because it looks at specific genetic material for the virus.

DeWine explained the efficacy of the PCR test in a lengthy after announcing his negative results.

DeWine and his wife Fran both tested negative, as well as his staffers
7
DeWine and his wife Fran both tested negative, as well as his staffersCredit: AP:Associated Press
DeWine's first coronavirus test was part of the protocol to greet President Donald Trump at an airport in Cleveland on Thursday
7
DeWine's first coronavirus test was part of the protocol to greet President Donald Trump at an airport in Cleveland on ThursdayCredit: Reuters

PCR tests for the 73-year-old governor, his wife, and staff were run twice on two different diagnostic platforms and came back negative both times, according to The Enquirer.

"We feel confident in the results from Wexner Medical Center," DeWine said in a released statement. 

"This is the same PCR test that has been used over 1.6 million times in Ohio by hospitals and labs all over the state."

DeWine's test that came back negative was a polymerase chain reaction, or PCR test
7
DeWine's test that came back negative was a polymerase chain reaction, or PCR testCredit: AFP or licensors
The test is more sensitive and accurate than an antigen test because it looks at specific genetic material for COVID-19
7
The test is more sensitive and accurate than an antigen test because it looks at specific genetic material for COVID-19Credit: AFP or licensors

The DeWines plan to take another PCR test Saturday for extra caution and at the direction of doctors. Those results will be released. 

DeWine was set to meet the president at the Cleveland airport on Thursday before a Trump campaign event .

He is the second governor known to have contracted the virus, after Governor Kevin Stitt.

The governor said he and his wife plan to take a second coronavirus test on Saturday at doctors' requests and out of extra caution
7
The governor said he and his wife plan to take a second coronavirus test on Saturday at doctors' requests and out of extra cautionCredit: AP:Associated Press
DeWine is the second governor to test positive for COVID-19, after Oklahoma Gov Kevin Stitt
7
DeWine is the second governor to test positive for COVID-19, after Oklahoma Gov Kevin StittCredit: AP:Associated Press

As DeWine announced his diagnosis,  over the last two weeks.

An  analysis found that new daily cases are rising in 26 states - including Ohio.

More than 4.9 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19 and at least 159,000 have died as of Thursday, according to a New York Times database.

Trump criticized for playing Live And Let Die at Ohio event after Gov tests positive and coronavirus deaths soar
Topics