COVID-19 Alert - April 29, 2020

Please note the below update and attached modified re-opening protocols (which were updated again today as recently as 5:45 PM) regarding face covering requirements for employers, employees, and customers. Until an order outlining the re-opening requirements is issued, it is possible the guidance will change again. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

By the Numbers:

• 128,206 individuals tested

• 17,303 total cases, 2,797 of which are health care workers

• 937 deaths

• 3,421 hospitalizations, 1,014 of which are in the intensive care unit

• All 88 counties have confirmed cases

• Ages range from less than one year old to 106 years of age, with a median age of 51

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

Face Covering Clarification and Exceptions:

• Following significant confusion and changes on re-opening requirements for face coverings, Lt. Governor Jon Husted provided an update for employers, employees, and customers.

• Employers and employees:  Face coverings are required for employers and employees, except when:

  • An employee in a particular position is prohibited by law or regulation from wearing a face covering while on the job;

  • A face covering is against documented industry best practices;

  • A face covering is not advisable for health purposes;

  • A face covering is a violation of company safety policies;

  • An employee is sitting alone in an enclosed workspace; or,

  • There is a practical reason a face covering cannot be worn by employee.

  • Note: If any exceptions apply to a business or employee, then written justification must be provided upon request.

• Customers at a business:  Face coverings are not required by the state, but strongly recommended.  A business owner, however,  may require customers to where a mask upon entering their business.  

• Sector-specific reopening protocols can be found at https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/responsible-restart-ohio/sector-specific-operating-requirements/sector-specific-operating-requirements

Distribution of 4.1 M in Personal Protective Equipment:

• Governor Mike DeWine announced that last week, in coordination with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, JobsOhio, Ohio Department of Health (ODH), and Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Ohio secured and shipped 4.1 million pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to county EMAs around the state.  The PPE will be distributed to nursing homes, jails, congregate living facilities, hospitals, and first responders. 

• The 4.1 million of PPE received in Ohio includes:

  • 500,000 N95 masks

  • 850,000 face shields

  • 750,000 surgical-type masks

  • 2 million non-medical gloves

• This shipment of PPE is the largest one-time distribution of PPE from the State of Ohio to local EMAs in history.

Law Enforcement Grants:

• Governor DeWine announced that nearly $16 million in grant funding is now available through the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), provided for in the recently-passed federal CARES Act.

• Applications are available on the OCJS website at:    https://www.ocjsgrants.com/Login2.aspx?APPTHEME=OHOGS.  

• Entities eligible to apply for grant funds include:  

  1. Local law enforcement

  2. Probation and parole offices

  3. Local courts

  4. Victim services providers

  5. Adult, juvenile, community corrections agencies

• Applicants who receive grant funding may use funds for expenses related to COVID-19 such as, but not limited to:

  1. Cleaning supplies and PPE

  2. Overtime costs

  3. New technology for virtual court hearings

  4. Inmate medical needs 

  5. Supplies for COVID-19 monitoring and testing in local jails

  6. Alternative housing for survivors of violence who need to be quarantined away from their homes due to safety concerns

• Grant applications will be accepted on a continual basis while funding is available.

Guidance to School Districts Regarding Graduations:

• The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and ODH jointly issued guidance for local school districts and health departments to follow regarding graduations.

• Governor DeWine ranked the preference for graduation ceremonies as:

  1. Virtual graduations (most preferred)

  2. Drive-in ceremony, where students drive to a designated location at a designated time to receive their diplomas

  3. A small event with ten (10) people or less at a time, where individuals maintain social distance while students receive diplomas

• Each school district must work with their local health departments to ensure that their graduation plan is in accordance with the ODE and ODH prescribed guidelines.

• Governor DeWine reiterated that gatherings of ten (10) people or more is still prohibited and discouraged graduation parties as they pose as great a risk as the graduation ceremony itself.

Child Care Update:

• Governor DeWine is working with the legislature to put together a working group to discuss child care issues. He reiterated that congregate settings, such as schools and child care facilities, have an increased risk of spreading the virus and that challenge has prevented them from reopening these child care services. 

Message from Social Security Administration:

• If an individual receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the federal government will automatically send the $1,200 economic impact payment directly to the individual. 

• However, SSI recipients who have not filed a tax return and have an eligible child, must file a form with the IRS by May 5th in order to receive an additional $500 per child.  The IRS non-filer form is available at www.irs.gov.