Ohioans waiting to go to bars, eat at restaurants, get their hair cut, or nails done will not have to wait much longer, as Gov. Mike DeWine announced that next Friday these businesses will open in some capacity.
“Reopening Ohio is a risk, but it’s also a risk if you don’t move forward. We’re on a dangerous road that has never been traveled before in Ohio and the danger is that we relax and stop taking precautions,” DeWine said. “All of us collectively control this. I ask you to take calculated risks and make good judgments. Continue social distancing, washing your hands, and wearing face coverings. If you aren’t concerned with what happens to you, do it for others.”
These guidelines were established by two separate committees that DeWine formed for best recommendations and practices when reopening these entities.
For restaurants and bars, people will only be able to access the outdoor dining sections of these businesses on May 15. Dine-in services can begin on May 21, according to the governor’s press release.
When these bars and restaurants open up, they must follow guidelines laid out by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Some of these rules include making employees wear face coverings; clean the facility daily; clean all high touch areas every two hours; keep customers six feet away; and provide handwashing and sanitizing products in common areas.
As personal care services such as hair salons, barbershops tanning facilities and day spas reopen on May 15, they too will need to adhere to ODH guidelines. Measures that will need to be followed include mandatory face coverings for all employees are required; wear gloves and dispose of gloves in high areas; social distance measures for customers and employees; business will have to stagger customer entry; and getting rid of single-use materials in between clients.
When these businesses open, it will help Ohio’s unemployment rate. As the state has slowly opened, the number of people filing for unemployment has dropped. Just over 61,000 Ohioans filed jobless claims for the week ending May 2, down from the nearly 100,000 claims filed the previous week, The Ohio Star reported.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of Star News Digital Media. If you have any tips, email Zachery at [email protected].
