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Coronavirus
As a new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) swept through the world in 2020, preparedness plans, masking policies and more public policy changed just as quickly. WVXU has covered the pandemic's impact on the Tri-State from the very beginning, when on March 3, 2020, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine barred spectators from attending the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus over concerns about the virus, even though Ohio had yet to confirm a single case of COVID-19.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Now Has His Own Bobblehead

Courtesy of National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum
Gov. Mike DeWine (far right) is among the most visable governors during the pandemic - so much so he now has his own bobblehead.

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museumhas just released bobbleheads of four prominent governors who host daily news conferences during the coronavirus pandemic, including one of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

The museum has plans to create more bobbleheads, and says its biggest seller has been Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (Even Director of the Ohio Department of Health Dr. Amy Acton now has he own bobblehead.) 

Seeing how popular Dr. Fauci was, co-founder of the Wisconsin museum Phil Sklar knew he had hit on something. "We realized OK, there's definitely an interest out there for some of the people who have really risen to prominence, become household names - not just in their own states or regions, not just across the country - but even the world in a lot of cases," he says.

In addition to Gov. DeWine, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers are being unveiled.

Sklar says he will make more governors and pandemic officials as requested. They sell for $25 plus shipping. "Five dollars from every one sold is going directly to the Protect the Heroes fund in support of the 100 Million Mask Challengeto get PPE and masks in the hands of the first responders to save everybody's life from the pandemic," Sklar says.

Credit National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum
Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator

So far, Sklar's sent $160,000 to the cause, all monies raised from the sale of Dr. Fauci's bobblehead.

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum opened to the public in February 2019 and says it has 6,500 unique bobbleheads including movie stars, sports heros, animals and politicians.

Ann Thompson has decades of journalism experience in the Greater Cincinnati market and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her reporting.