COLUMBUS – Ohio’s new stay-at-home order, which went into effect at midnight Monday and remains in place until May 1, means changes for shoppers and travelers.
UPDATE 4/7/20 2:03 p.m.: The Ohio Department of Health confirms 4,782 cases of COVID-19 in the state with 167 fatalities.
Ohio Dept. of Health amended “stay-at-home” order (4/7/20-5/1/20)
Retailers will be required to determine a maximum number of customers allowed in the store to account for proper physical distancing. That number must also be displayed at the businesses’ entrances.
“The whole idea is just to make a calculation of how can people continue to be safe, what number,” Gov. Mike DeWine said.
Some companies, including Kroger, Walmart and Target, have already put some measures in place, including designating one-way aisles and assigning workers to sanitizing shopping carts.
The Ohio Department of Health call center is open 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to answer questions regarding COVID-19 at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
Click here for the latest information:
Ohio Department of Health coronavirus website
Ohio COVID-19 Dashboard displays the most recent preliminary data
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ohio health director Dr. Amy Acton says the state may have some hard days ahead but the mitigation efforts – such as staying home and maintaining social distances – have allowed the state’s hospitals to build up resources in advance of an expected surge in cases.
“I am absolutely certain you will look back and know that you helped save each other in this state, that the impact is profound,” Acton said during DeWine’s daily Statehouse news briefing Monday.,
Governor DeWine also reminded “snowbirds” returning from Florida and other winter destinations that, under the new order, they must quarantine for 14 days once they arrive in Ohio.
In addition to those returning after spending winter elsewhere, anyone who has traveled outside of Ohio for any other reason must also self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return. The order excludes truckers, healthcare workers, other essential workers and those who live on the borders with neighboring states.
There are 4,450 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ohio and 142 deaths. Franklin County and Columbus Public Health reported a total of 679 cases and 10 deaths. Altogether, there have been 15 deaths in Columbus and the surrounding counties.
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DeWine announced Monday that the Greater Columbus Convention Center is one of six sites across the state that will convert to temporary hospitals if needed.
A plan has been developed to expand healthcare services at alternative sites in the event of a surge in coronavirus cases that threatens to swamp the state’s hospital systems.
These alternate sites will house mildly ill patients, leaving space in traditional hospitals for the more serious cases:
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Seagate Convention Center, Lucas County
Case Western University’s Health Education Campus, Cuyahoga County
Dayton Convention Center, Montgomery County
Covelli Convention Center, Mahoning County
Duke Energy Convention Center, Hamilton County
The sites were chosen by officials from the state’s health care systems, local governments, county emergency management agencies, state agencies, the Ohio National Guard and other organizations.
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Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security is accepting donations of new personal protective equipment and hand-seen masks at it’s headquarters at 5300 Strawberry Farms Boulevard Monday through Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
The Licking County Health Department is asking for donations of personal protective equipment, such as masks and gowns, to distribute to first responders.
The agency is specifically accepting unopened medical-grade masks such as N95 and surgical masks, medical-grade gowns and Tyvek suits during the PPE Drive, which can be dropped off at the Licking County Health Department, 675 Price Road in Newark, on Friday, April 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.