DeWine says restaurants can reopen this month
Governor DeWine has announced details on when restaurants can reopen their outdoor patios and dining rooms.
DeWine says restaurants can reopen this month
More than six weeks after issuing a stay-at-home order, Governor Mike DeWine has set out his plans for restaurants and bars to reopen at a news briefing.
"How we do it is so very, very important," Dewine said. "The how is an essential part of how successful we're going to be."
Dewine said that nail salons, hair salons and barbershops will be able to reopen beginning next Wednesday, May 15.
The governor went on to announce that restaurants and bars can also begin serving customers on their outdoor patios and outside dining areas on May 15. Restaurants with inside dining rooms may reopen those dining areas on May 21, with additional safety precautions.
Restaurants and bars will be required to have floor plans that will comply with social distancing guidelines. Diners will be limited to groups of 10 people and required to be six feet apart from other parties. Most employees will be required to wear masks with some exemptions, while guests may also be asked to wear masks. Customers may be asked to wait in cars before being seated.
Lt. Governor Husted said that once bars, restaurants, hair salons and barbershops reopen, 92% of Ohio's economy will have reopened.
Under the guidance issued last week, retail stores and consumer businesses are also due to reopen beginning next Tuesday, May 12.
As of today, the Ohio Department of Health is reporting 20,625 confirmed cases of coronavirus infections, 4,052 hospitalizations and 1,114 deaths.
