Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced today that he would be taking action to close all bars and restaurants as of 9 p.m. tonight, as a way to stem the tide of growing coronavirus cases in Ohio.
According to coronavirus.ohio.gov, there are 37 confirmed cases, 361 under investigation and 140 negative test results as of 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
“The cases are the tip of the iceberg,” said Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton There are many cases out there that are undetected.”
Acton went on to speak of an Ohio firefighter who may have exposed everyone in the firehouse to the virus.
Carryout and delivery are, at this time, still permitted, but per executive order, DeWine is closing all bars and restaurant establishments in the state.
“We’re dealing with life and death,” said Gov. DeWine, in a statement this evening, trying to impress upon people the urgency of this outbreak.
Alongside the closures, DeWine announced an executive order that will allow workers without paid leave benefits to have access to unemployment benefits. The order will also waive the one week wait for receiving of said benefits to help workers who will be out of work due to the call to close down bars and restaurants.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said that small businesses and non-profits will be available for loan to pay payroll and other bills.
DeWine said that he has alerted school superintendents that the period of school closings may be extended. He also said that he was moving to close down daycare centers and that hospitals are setting up their own centers that will be excluded by the order.
“This is the real thing. This is not a drill. This is a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic and each and everything each one of us go matters,” Acton said.
For further information please go to coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Richard Foltz
Executive Editor