Ramaswamy Accuses Amy Acton of Exacerbating Ohio Poverty and Falsifying COVID Data

Vivek Ramaswamy, a prominent Republican figure, has publicly attacked Amy Acton, former Ohio Department of Health Director and current Democratic gubernatorial candidate, alleging that her COVID-19 lockdown policies significantly increased poverty in Ohio and that she "lied about Covid death rates." Ramaswamy, referring to Acton as "Dr. Lockdown," asserted that these actions "devastated our families" and that "Ohio will never trust you again." The accusations were made in a recent social media post, intensifying the political discourse surrounding Ohio's pandemic response.

Acton, who served as Ohio's health director during the initial phase of the pandemic, spearheaded an aggressive public health strategy that included being the first state to close schools. Her measures, while praised by some for their proactive nature, drew considerable criticism from others who viewed them as overreaching and detrimental to the economy. Ramaswamy's campaign has consistently blamed Acton for the negative consequences of these early closures on students, families, and small businesses.

Data from the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA) indicates that Ohio's poverty rate increased from 12.7% to 13.4% in 2021, with Cuyahoga County experiencing a 16.2% poverty rate. This report highlights the economic strain faced by many Ohioans during the pandemic, including significant learning loss and challenges in accessing mental health services. Nationally, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic fallout led to widespread hardship, with disproportionate impacts on low-income individuals and minority groups, as detailed by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Despite Ramaswamy's claim of Acton "lying about Covid death rates," reputable sources present a different picture. A study published in The Lancet revealed that Ohio had among the lowest adjusted COVID-19 death rates in the country from 2020 to mid-2022. Acton's public briefings from early 2020 show her reporting the available data on cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, emphasizing the uncertainty and evolving nature of the pandemic. Her public statements focused on the need to "flatten the curve" to prevent healthcare system collapse, a strategy she has consistently defended as being based on the best available science at the time.