COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s statewide curfew will be extended after COVID-related hospitalizations dipped below 3,500 for the seventh consecutive day on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Ohio Governor Michael DeWine (R) announced that the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) recommended altering the statewide curfew to 11:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. when COVID-related hospitalizations fall below 3,500 for seven consecutive days. Tuesday was the sixth consecutive day, Wednesday the seventh.
“I can confirm today’s hospitalization numbers triggered the policy the governor announced yesterday. We will be issuing an order tonight or tomorrow morning that will move the curfew start time to 11:00 p.m. EST starting tomorrow (Thursday) night,” said DeWine Press Secretary Dan Tierney in an email to The Ohio Star.
Bars and restaurants may also serve alcohol past 10 o’clock. “The last call order previously in effect expired weeks ago, so alcohol sales for in-person consumption may happen after 10:00 p.m. tomorrow, but the curfew will begin at 11:00 p.m. tomorrow,” he wrote.
The original statewide curfew order (along with the two extended orders) called for anyone in Ohio to be in a residence 10:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.
If COVID-related hospitalizations drop below 2,500 then people in Ohio can stay out until midnight and are lawfully allowed to do so for at least two weeks.
When hospitalizations dip under 2,000 then the curfew will be lifted.
However, according to guidance provided by the governor on Tuesday, the ODH can recommend the curfew be reinstituted when hospitalizations related to COVID begin increasing.
The curfew order does not apply to religious services and First Amendment protected speech, including activity of the media. Other exceptions apply to people leaving a residence for:
- travel required by law enforcement or court order;
- work;
- health and safety;
- accessing supplies and services;
- necessary social services;
- taking care of others;
- government services.
On Tuesday, COVID-related hospitalizations were 2,963 and 2,944 on Wednesday – two consecutive days below 3,000. If that level remains for the next five days (amounting to seven consecutive days below 3,000), then Ohioans may expect an announcement at next Tuesday’s COVID briefing that extends the curfew to midnight.
When COVID-related hospitalizations sink below 2,000, the governor has said the curfew will be lifted altogether. However, the DeWine stated on Tuesday that the ODH may reinstitute the curfew if hospitalizations associated with the virus increase.
Since mid-December COVID hospital utilization metrics have dropped considerably. Based on data collected over the past couple months from the Ohio COVID website page listing hospital utilization data, The Star calculated the following:
- Hospital beds occupied by people counted as COVID-positive equaled 5,175 on December 16 but only 2,944 on January 27 – a drop of 43%.
- ICU beds occupied by people who either tested positive for COVID or were logged as exhibiting symptoms of a COVID-like illness equaled 1,265 on December 16, fell to 735 by January 27 – a 42% decline.
- Ventilators used by people who either tested positive for COVID or were diagnosed as having a COVID-like illness was 845 on December 16. By January 27, the number dipped to482 – a 43% fall.
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Jack Windsor is Statehouse Reporter at The Ohio Star. Windsor is also an independent investigative reporter. Follow Jack on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
that’s good, we all know COVID sleeps till 10:59