Ohio state health director resigns

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced Thursday that Amy Acton, the state health director, has resigned.

DeWine praised Acton, who has seen her profile skyrocket amidst the coronavirus pandemic, for her “wide advice and counsel” and said she will still serve as his chief health adviser.

Ohio, like multiple other states, has gonna stern pushback from some residents over restrictions and measures put in place to help contain the pandemic.

“When #COVID19 hit China, Dr. Acton started talking with me about it in January. Her wise advice and counsel and connections with other doctors and health experts led us safely through those first few weeks,” the governor tweeted. “While the decisions were always mine, her counsel was superb. I will always believe and know that many lives were saved because of her wise advice.”

“Let me say how very grateful I am for Dr. Acton’s selfless and tireless service to the people of #Ohio as our Department of Health Director. No one is more passionate about public health than Dr. Amy Acton. She always puts the health and safety of Ohioans first and foremost.”

DeWine did not give a reason for Acton’s resignation, saying only that she “felt that it was time for her to step down.”

Let me say how very grateful I am for Dr. Acton’s selfless and tireless service to the people of #Ohio as our Department of Health Director. No one is more passionate about public health than Dr. Amy Acton. She always puts the health and safety of Ohioans first and foremost.

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) June 11, 2020

DeWine said Lance Himes will serve as the interim director of the Ohio Department of Health, a role he’s filled in the past.

The governor said Acton will continue to focus on the coronavirus pandemic as well as “take a comprehensive and holistic approach to address health and well-being for all Ohioans.”

“It’s true, not all heroes wear capes,” said DeWine. “Some of them wear a white coat embossed with the name Dr. Amy Acton.”

Acton has drawn praise for her role in fighting the coronavirus pandemic in Ohio, garnering praise as well as bobbleheads made in her likeness.

However, she attracted scrutiny in March when she said that 100,000 people in the state had the coronavirus, a figure critics said was too high. She later backtracked, saying she was “guesstimating.”