The Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud signed two orders on Tuesday, changing coronavirus guidance for events like wedding receptions and funerals, as well as sports and entertainment venues.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced the change to guidance for entertainment and sports venues last week. The new guidance mandates the indoor venues for sports and entertainment have only 25 percent of fixed or seated capacity, while outdoor venues can fill at 30 percent capacity. The governor originally allowed these venues to reopen at 15 percent capacity on August 21.
McCloud also signed an order changing guidance for other events, removing the 300-person capacity limit previously set in place. The new guidance applies to wedding receptions, funerals, proms and other events, regardless of whether food is served.
Banquet halls and other events must still adhere to other coronavirus mandates, such as mask wearing.
Today, @OHdeptofhealth Director Stephanie McCloud signed two public health orders that both go into effect today.
Mass gatherings: https://t.co/s8UoOSOM5J
Sports and entertainment venues: https://t.co/wepwTCRDYTSummary of changes ⬇ pic.twitter.com/sqHJrxAyBN
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 2, 2021
Other gatherings outside of those permitted under the orders are still prohibited, according to the order.
Both orders are effective immediately.
Ohio saw fewer than 3,000 new coronavirus cases daily for most of February, down from the more than 4,000 new daily cases that dominated January, according to data from the COVID Tracking Project. The state has seen more than 831,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 14,000 deaths related to the virus.
More than 1.7 million Ohio residents have received at least the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, nearly 15 percent of the population, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair.
