COLUMBUS, Ohio - Admitting that they may be a bit difficult to grasp, Governor Mike DeWine said he'd do his best to explain  CDC guidelines for how to report the numbers of coronavirus cases in the state. 

DeWine said he'd learned of the new guidelines on Friday morning that will include in the official numbers cases confirmed via quick tests, as well as those with coronavirus symptoms and contact with confirmed patients. 

DeWine said the previous formula only included those cases that were confirmed in a lab. 

The governor said he will continue to report data based upon the old formula, but will then include the new numbers and a total, as well. 

He said this will help to more quickly identify and isolate coronavirus cases, which will be crucial to ultimately controlling the spread of the virus. 

Estimates for how well social distancing efforts in Ohio have worked so far seem to indicate success in beating back a potential surge in infections that could overwhelm the states hospitals, as happened in some other places such as Italy and, closer to home, New York. 

DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Public Health, have displayed optimism in recent briefings, but have coupled that positivity with stark reminders that the state is still only in the middle of this crisis and that relaxing restrictions too soon could lead to a spike in new cases which could still have a devastating impact on healthcare availability. 

At one point, a model designed by the Ohio State University that Acton has pointed to was anticipating up to 10,000 new cases per day at its peak, expected for mid- to late- April and would require double or triple hospital capacity. 

That number has been revised down to as few as 1,600 cases per day. Efforts are still underway to expand hospital capacity, in conjunction with the National Guard, should they be necessary. 

Those efforts include converting the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown into a field hospital for overflow coronavirus patients who no longer require intensive care, but are not ready to go home. 

On Friday, Acton shared a video to once again illustrate the impact the states stay at home order is having on slowing the spread of the virus by demostrating how one action can impact many others. 

 DeWine also announced changes to Medicaid that are designed to remove barriers to treatment, such as waiving copays for prescriptions and relaxing some standards for emergency refills. 

When asked how DeWine, Acton and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted are doing personally throughout the coronavirus crisis, DeWine and his wife Fran spoke of a new puppy that they said has helped them a lot. 

"She's been good for Mike," Fran DeWine said. 

Husted said he's fortunate to have a support system around him and, along with the governor, said there are many people in the state struggling far more than they are. 

Acton's answer was perhaps the most personal, as she visibly held back tears as she spoke of the importance of public service. 

"It is an honor to do this. It is a long haul, we work...you don't see behind the scenes, but every decision is so hard-got, and they're working tirelessly and our whole teams that you don't see are. But likewise, if I could just say to my husband at home, Eric, I love you and you've just been so good. To have the support we have makes all the difference," Acton said. 

In a sign that the crisis in the state may be beginning to slow down, DeWine closed the briefing with words of encouragement for those who are suffering, spoke of looking to the future and announced that, for the first time since the beginning of the crisis in early March, there will be no planned news conferences this weekend unless some significant development occurs.