Governor Mike DeWine – through Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton – announced Sunday that a two-week, statewide ‘Stay at Home‘ order will be in effect beginning 11:59 p.m. Monday, March 23 and will last through April 6 at 11:59pm:
On Sunday, March 22th, under the direction of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, M.D., MPH issued a director’s order to require all Ohioans to stay in their homes to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 beginning at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 23, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. on April 6, 2020. This order prohibits holding gatherings of any size and closes all nonessential businesses. It does NOT prohibit essential activities like going to the grocery store, receiving medical care, or taking your pet for a walk. Residents can return home from out of state and can leave the state.
In his remarks, Gov. DeWine compared COVID-19 virus to the influenza epidemic in 1918 which killed 20-50 million people.
“We haven’t faced an enemy like we are facing today in 102 years – we are at war. In the time of war, we must make sacrifices, and I thank all of our Ohio citizens for what they are doing and what they aren’t doing. You are making a huge difference, and this difference will save lives,” DeWine in a statement. “Right now, we are in a crucial time in this battle. What we do now will slow this invader so that our healthcare system will have time to treat those who have contracted COVID-19 and also have time to treat those who have other medical problems. Time is of the essence.”
Although only three of Ohio’s estimated of 11.7 million residents have been lost to the Chinese Virus to date, Acton advised the public they are not receiving all the numbers.
“This data is a snapshot of the past because everything points to the fact that we had a seeding of COVID-19 in Ohio early on, yet we were one of the last states to get the reagents we needed to do testing. This data is not telling the full story of what is happening here,” Acton said. “Even the data you see in the future is minimal because we are conserving all our available testing for the most high-risk and hospitalized front line workers. We are withholding most of our testing because we are running out of reagent to conduct these tests.”
The “Stay at Home” order identifies daycare facilities as “essential,” but adds that starting Thursday, March 26 the following restrictions will apply through the end of April:
- There should be no more than six children in a class.
- Ratios must be kept at one teacher to no more than six children.
- Children whose parents are employed by the same entity should be kept together whenever possible.
- The same teachers and children in each room should be maintained whenever possible.
- There should be limited use of shared space or mixing of groups.
- If shared space is used, a rigorous cleaning schedule must be in place.
- Parent interaction should be limited at drop off and pick up.
On Saturday, DeWine announced that Ohio’s nursing facilities that provide daycare and assistance for adults with developmental disabilities with more than ten people will close which will take effect Tuesday.
Watch the full press conference:
For more information on Ohio’s response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.
Read the 23-page order:
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Samantha Witwer is a reporter at The Ohio Star.
