page_title: Amy Acton
section_title: Coronavirus pandemic in Ohio
hierarchical_section_title: Amy Acton / Career / Coronavirus pandemic in Ohio
caption_attribution_description: 02bIMG_0776
context_page_description: Amy Acton, M.D., M.P.H. is an American physician and public-health researcher who served the director of the Ohio Department of Health from 2019–2020. She became known for her leading role in Ohio's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
context_section_description: In 2020, prior to and during the coronavirus pandemic, Acton advised Governor Mike DeWine, who became the first U.S. governor to close schools and limit gatherings to no more than 100 people, despite that Ohio, at the time, had only three confirmed cases. Ohio was also the first state to temporarily close down bars and restaurants, when Ohio had fewer than 40 confirmed cases. Acton soon after estimated that Ohio's then 5 confirmed cases likely translated to 100,000 actual cases, making national news. In mid-March, she predicted cases could peak in late April to mid-May.
  On March 12, she predicted of the 2019 coronavirus pandemic that "This will be the thing this generation remembers." Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes called her "the real MVP of Ohio’s coronavirus response." The Dayton Daily News called her "Ohio's trusted face during the pandemic."
  Acton was an advocate of postponing the 2020 Ohio Democratic presidential primary, which was slated for March 17, 2020. The day before the scheduled election, Governor DeWine declared it canceled, only for a judge to rule that he did not have the authority to do so. Acton then ordered polling places closed due a public health emergency. It was later determined that the election would be conducted entirely by mail-in absentee ballot for those who had not participated in early voting. In April 2020, CNN called her "the Buckeye state's version of the straight-talking Dr. Anthony Fauci".
  On April 1, Governor DeWine was reported as "quick to defer to Dr. Acton for specific questions on the virus and its spread" during daily news briefings, "reminding Ohioans that the state's decisions are driven by science."
  During the first 3 months of the Coronavirus pandemic Dr. Acton was sued by music festival organizers, gym owners, amusement parks, bridal shops and restaurants, among others.   On May 20, 2020 in response to a lawsuit filed on behalf of 35 gyms, Lake County Court of Common Pleas Judge Eugene Lucci enjoined Acton from enforcing punitive actions against the plaintiffs and similar businesses, providing "they operate in compliance with all applicable safety regulations." On May 20, 2020 the Ohio Senate unanimously voted against a House proposal intended to limit the executive power of Governor Mike DeWine and health director Dr. Acton.
caption: Anti-stay at home protester outside Acton's home
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