COVID-19 Alert - April 27, 2020
By the Numbers:
119,391 individuals tested
16,325 total cases, 2,652 of which are health care workers
753 deaths
3,232 hospitalizations, 978 of which are in the intensive care unit
All 88 counties have confirmed at least one case
Ages range from less than one year old to 106 years of age, with a median age range of 51
State of Ohio COVID-19 dashboard:https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/dashboards/overview
Ohio Re-Opening Plan:
Before Governor DeWine announced the details of his re-opening plan, he asked Ohioans to consider the following three (3) facts as we move forward:
Ohioans have done an amazing job staying at home and social distancing, and we are able to start opening up because of those actions.
The coronavirus is still here and is still dangerous.
The essential tools that we have used to slow down the virus are still the same: distance, handwashing, sanitation of surfaces, and face coverings.
Friday, May 1: HealthCare Procedures Resume
Healthcare procedures, including those provided by a dentist and veterinarians, that do not require an overnight stay in a hospital can resume on Friday, May 1.
Monday, May 4: Manufacturers, Distributions Centers, Construction Companies and General Offices Environments Resume with Requirements
Governor DeWine encouraged those individuals who can continue working from home to do so, if possible.
See attached Protocols for Manufacturing, Distribution and Construction and Protocols for General Office Environments.
Tuesday, May 12: Consumer, Retail and Services Resume
See attached Protocols for Consumer, Retail and Services.
Stay-at-Home Order Remains
Dr. Acton explained that the current Stay-at-Home orders are still in place and will be modified to allow for people to go to work and certain consumer, retail and service businesses. The ban on gatherings of 10 people or more remains in effect.
Requirements for Businesses Re-Opening:
Governor DeWine outlined the protocols that businesses must meet in order to re-open. The required protocol is also mandated for essential businesses that have remained open during the previous five weeks. See attached Responsible Protocols for Getting Ohio Back to Work, which include:
No mask, no work, no service, no exception. Require face coverings for employees and clients/customers at all times.
Conduct daily health assessments by employers and employees (self-evaluation) to determine if “fit for duty.”
Maintain good hygiene at all times – hand washing, sanitizing and social distancing.
Clean and sanitize workplaces throughout workday and at the close of business or between shifts.
Limit capacity to meet social distancing guidelines: Establish maximum capacity at 50% of fire code. And, use appointment setting where possible to limit congestion.
What will Remain Closed Until Further Notice:
K – 12 Schools.
Restaurants and bars, except carryout and delivery.
Personal appearance and beauty services, including hair salons, day spas, nail salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors, body piercing locations, tanning facilities, massage therapy locations and similar businesses.
Older adult day care services and senior centers.
Rooming and boarding houses, and workers’ camps.
Entertainment/recreation/gymnasium sites.
Includes, but is not limited to all places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, such as:
Laser tag facilities, roller skating rinks, ice skating rinks, arcades, indoor miniature golf facilities, bowling alleys, indoor trampoline parks, indoor water parks, arcades, and adult and child skill or chance game facilities remain closed.
Gambling industries.
Auditoriums, stadiums, arenas.
Movie theatres, performance theatres, and concert and music halls.
Public recreation centers and indoor sports facilities.
Parades, fairs, festivals, and carnivals.
Amusement parks, theme parks, outdoor water parks, children's play centers, playgrounds, and funplexes.
Aquariums, zoos, museums, historical sites, and similar institutions.
Country clubs and social clubs.
Spectator sports, recreational sports tournaments and organized recreational sports leagues.
Health clubs, fitness centers, workout facilities, gyms, and yoga studios.
Swimming pools, whether public or private, except swimming pools for single households.
Residential and day camps.
Campgrounds, including recreational camps and recreational vehicle (RV) parks.
Excludes people living in campground RVs with no other viable place of residence.
Excludes people living in cabins, mobile homes, or other fixed structures that are meant for single families and where preexisting residential activity already has been established. (E.g., for people who have part-time preestablished residences at campgrounds for the summer months).
Increased Testing and Contact Tracing:
Governor DeWine reviewed the coronavirus statistics and explained that our actions are making a difference and we are moving in the right direction. In addition to social distancing, he noted that we need to also ramp up testing and contact tracing in order to open the economy safely.
The Governor stated that Ohio companies are producing the needed reagent and testing swabs and, as a result, expects over 22,000 test per day by the end of May.
The Governor said the goal is to hire 1,750 trained workers to perform contact tracing statewide. The state will financially support local health departments with hiring and training.
Unemployment Compensation Update:
Lt. Governor Husted announced that, to date, 446,000 Ohioans have accessed services thought the unemployment compensation system, and $1.24B has been paid to Ohioans.
Ohio House of Representatives Re-Open Recommendations:
Earlier this morning, 28 Republican members of the Ohio House, including Economic Recovery Task Force Chairman Rep. Paul Zeltwanger, released an Open Ohio Responsibly Framework: A Data Driven, Applied Science Approach for Opening Ohio for all Ohioans, which includes guiding principles, concept of operations, and recommendations.
Shortly thereafter, House Democratic leaders released A Responsible Restart for Ohio: Recommendations from House Democratic Caucus, which included 10 focus areas of testing, tracing, hygiene, childcare, vulnerable populations, worker protections, consumer confidence, support for business, general election and public awareness.