Restarting Ohio - DeWine lays out plan for gradual reopening
Governor Mike DeWine has announced details for a gradual reopening of Ohio's economy.
Restarting Ohio - DeWine lays out plan for gradual reopening
Five weeks after issuing a stay-at-home order, Governor Mike DeWine has set out his plans for a safe and gradual reopening during the state briefing this afternoon.
DeWine said elective medical procedures and surgeries that do not require an overnight stay in hospital can resume this Friday, May 1. Dentists will also be allowed to reopen, as will veterinary services.
Starting next Monday, May 4, all manufacturing, distribution and construction businesses can resume operations. Businesses in office environments will also be allowed to reopen next week. Gov. DeWine encouraged businesses to continue to allow employees to work from home "if at all humanly possible".
Ohio's retail stores and consumer businesses will be allowed to reopen starting May 12.
Those businesses authorized to reopen will need to follow new safety protocols, including requiring face coverings for employees, conducting daily health assessments, maintaining good hygiene, regularly cleaning and sanitizing workplaces, and limiting capacity to meet new social distancing guidelines.
DeWine did not indicate when businesses like restaurants, gyms, daycares, barbershops and salons would be able to reopen.
Gatherings of 10 people or more are still not allowed.
DeWine said the stay at home order will remain in place but has been modified to allow the reopening of the economy.
"We've got to get moving, we’ve got to get people back to work," DeWine said during the briefing. "At the same time, we have to protect Ohioans."
As of today, the Ohio Department of Health is reporting 16,325 confirmed cases of coronavirus infections, 3,232 hospitalizations and 753 deaths.
