Grendell Rumored to Have COVID-19
Rep. John Patterson Shares Diagnosis, Hospitalization
“As someone who has retired from the classroom, I know there are moments in life when minds can be changed. Let this be one of those moments. COVID-19 is real. Rep. Rogers and I now personally understand its power over the body. All Ohioans need to be putting others ahead of self during this dangerous time. I urge everyone to abide by the guidelines for the health and safety of all. Let this be a teachable moment for all of us." - state Rep. John Patterson
Multiple reports have circulated among county officials in recent days indicating Geauga County Juvenile Probate Court Judge Tim Grendell is suspected of having contracted the novel coronavirus.
If true, Grendell would be the first county-level elected official to be diagnosed with COVID-19.
On Dec. 15, the Geauga County Maple Leaf emailed Grendell, as well as his wife, state Rep. Diane Grendell, asking them to comment on the rumors swirling around the county. As of press time, neither had responded to the email or to a subsequent voicemail left with Diane.
Several sources have described a “shroud of secrecy” surrounding the judge’s health and whereabouts. Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz, while saying he did not know whether Grendell has COVID-19, told the Maple Leaf all recent hearings at which assistant prosecutors have attended have been virtual.
In addition, Flaiz and Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand told the Maple Leaf, shortly following their swearing-in ceremony Tuesday afternoon, they were each contacted by a reporter from the Ohio Capital Journal, a Columbus-based independent news organization which covers the statehouse.
Both told the Maple Leaf the OCJ reporter was attempting to determine the status of the judge’s health as part of a story regarding whether his wife should be quarantining in the event her husband is COVID-positive.
Flaiz added the reporter told him he had reached Diane Grendell on her cell phone, but when asked about her husband’s health, she said “no comment” and hung up the phone.
Hildenbrand acknowledged one of his deputies, who provides security at Grendell’s court, tested positive for COVID-19 and has been unable to return to work. However, Hildenbrand said there is no suggestion the deputy contracted the virus in the court.
The COVID-19 rumors took on a more serious note after news broke that multiple state reps had contracted the virus, including state Rep. John Patterson (D-Jefferson), whose district includes part of Geauga County. According to OCJ, Patterson was hospitalized Monday with pneumonia stemming from the novel coronavirus. His colleague, John Rogers (D-Mentor) was also hospitalized over the weekend.
“As someone who has retired from the classroom, I know there are moments in life when minds can be changed. Let this be one of those moments,” Patterson said in a statement. “COVID-19 is real. Rep. Rogers and I now personally understand its power over the body. All Ohioans need to be putting others ahead of self during this dangerous time. I urge everyone to abide by the guidelines for the health and safety of all. Let this be a teachable moment for all of us.”
Patterson initially announced his diagnosis in a press release Dec. 7. In the statement, he described the symptoms – chills, fatigue and a cough – which led him to suspect he had contracted the virus.
“I share this news of my positive test this afternoon in the hopes that others will now get a test and quarantine out of an abundance of caution,” Patterson said.
According to OCJ reporting, Patterson may have been exposed when Brunswick Republican Steve Hambley attended the Dec. 2 House Finance meeting after testing positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 22 and Nov. 28. Hambley did not disclose his two positive tests before appearing at the statehouse.
Patterson was able to respond to interviews and text messages from the hospital as of Tuesday morning.
In his Dec. 7 press release, Patterson said he has been consistently practicing social distancing and mask-wearing whenever possible. Because of the precautions he was taking, Patterson told OCJ it makes sense for him to have contracted the virus while working in Columbus, and that his duty as a public servant obligated him to be transparent about his diagnosis.
According to House records, Diane Grendell was also present in the statehouse and voting on Dec. 2. Grendell’s public comments and legislative actions regarding the pandemic have pushed back on public health orders. She has often pointedly refused to wear a mask in public, in defiance of Gov. Mike DeWine’s statewide mask mandate, first passed in July.
