COVD-19 Alert - May 14, 2020

Written By Madison Whalen

By the Numbers:

  • 231,795 individuals tested

  • 26,357 total cases, 4,121 of which are health care workers

  • 1,534 deaths

  • 4,718 hospitalizations, 1,268 of which are in the intensive care unit

  • 88 counties with at least one case

  • Ages range from less than one year old to 108 years of age, with a median age of 50

  • State of Ohio COVID-19 dashboard: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home/dashboard

 

Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced the re-opening of numerous industries and activities including:

 

Thursday, May 21 – Camping and Campgrounds

  • Some campgrounds are already open in a limited fashion, but campgrounds will be opening up completely on May 21.

  • Public restrooms, shower houses, and laundry facilities must be maintained and sanitized to minimize the risk of spread of the virus.

  • Precautions must be in place to maintain social distancing practices throughout the campground.

  • See attached: Camping and Campground Protocols.

 

Friday, May 22 – Horse Racing

  • The Ohio Racing Commission developed the guidelines for resumption of horse racing. No spectators will be allowed, and this does not impact the ongoing closure of casinos and racinos.

  • See attached: Horse Racing Protocols. 

 

Tuesday, May 26 – Gyms and Fitness Centers

 

Tuesday, May 26 – Sports Leagues for Non-Contact or Limited Contact Sports

 

Tuesday, May 26 – Public Pools

 

Tuesday, May 26 – Bureaus of Motor Vehicles (BMVs)

  • BMVs will open for most services on May 26, however Lt. Governor Husted reinforced that many BMV services are already available online and encouraged Ohioans to continue to access those services remotely. Online services include: vehicle registration, vehicle plate replacement, scheduling a driving test, updating an address, paying license reinstatement fees, and active duty and deployed military and their families can apply for drivers licenses and identification cards. Online services can be accessed at www.OPlates.com. 

  • Extensions granted by the Ohio Legislature on several license types and vehicle registrations will continue to be in effect.

  • The BMV is creating a detailed list of guidelines and best practices for deputy registrars to follow.  A full list of mandatory and recommended best practices will be posted to:https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/responsible-restart-ohio/sector-specific-operating-requirements/sector-specific-operating-requirements.

 

Sunday, May 31 – Childcare Centers

  • For several weeks, the administration has been working with a variety of experts to identify a path to re-open childcare centers. Governor DeWine noted the lack of concrete information regarding COVID-19’s spread in childcare settings, which slowed the development of a re-opening plan.

  • Today, he announced that childcare centers can re-open on May 31, however they will have reduced class sizes and intensified cleaning and hand washing practices.

  • Joan Close, President of the Sisters of Charity of Canton and Chair of the Early Childhood Advisory Council, provided details on the childcare re-opening plan, including:

    • For preschool and school-age children, there will be a maximum of nine (9) children in the classroom; for infants and toddlers, there will be a maximum of six (6) children in the classroom.

    • Field trips will not be allowed; playground and outdoor activities can occur, so long as there is significant sanitization between groups.

    • Toys and surfaces in common areas must be cleaned between each use. Children and staff will be required to wash hands frequently, including before and after meals and activities.

  • The state plans to conduct a research project to study best practices to control the spread of COVID-19 in childcare settings.

  • In addition, to assist in the re-opening of childcare centers, Ohio will use more than $60 million in federal CARES Act funding to provide re-opening grants to all of Ohio’s childcare providers, including family childcare, childcare centers, and both publicly-funded and private providers. Information on how to apply will be posted to:https://jfs.ohio.gov. 

  • See attached: Childcare Protocols and What Parents Should Know About Sending Children Back to Childcare.

 

Sunday, May 31: Day Camps 

 

*Note: Also attached is the most recently updated version of the Hair Salons, Day Spas, Nail Salons, Barbershops, Tanning Facilities, Tattoo Services and Body Piercings Protocols.

 

National Police Week:

  • Governor DeWine acknowledged National Police Week by thanking all of Ohio’s law enforcement personnel for their dedication and service.

  • Tomorrow, May 15, is National Peace Officers Memorial Day. Governor DeWine read the names of all police officers who perished in the line of duty over the past year and also paid tribute to former Pickaway County Sheriff Dwight Radcliff, who retired as the longest-serving sheriff in the United States in 2013. Sheriff Radcliff passed away this week.

 

Testing Update:

  • Pursuant to an Order from Ohio Department of Health Director, Dr. Amy Acton, all laboratories conducting business in Ohio and testing for COVID-19 must report aggregate testing results to the Ohio Department of Health by 11:00 AM each day, as well as begin reporting the total number of patients with pending tests or patients where tests have not been performed yet.

Madison Whalen
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