Gov. Mike DeWine’s Wednesday evening speech seemed to be a warning to Ohioans to wear masks or risk another round of shutdowns and closures. DeWine’s fellow Republican Speaker Larry Householder has been critical of some of DeWine’s COVID-19 responses. But in an interview for "The State of Ohio", Householder said he thought the speech was good.
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, who has said before he doesn't own a mask, admitted 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 said.
Householder says he stays away from people, though experts advise social distancing and masks.
“I stay more than six feet away, ten feet away from people constantly. I do a real good job of that. I don't think it's necessary for me to wear a mask. Those are decisions that I make in how I live my life. And that's the difference of opinion," Householder said.
Rep. Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) has revealed she has COVID-19 and Householder says three House staffers have also tested positive. Householder has said before that he doesn't have the authority to institute a mask mandate on other elected officials. And he said he won’t require masks when the House comes back in September.
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