School Closures
Beginning at the conclusion of the school day on Monday, March 16, all kindergarten through 12th grade schools will close to students through Friday, April 3.
This order includes all public, community, and private schools.
Does not apply to Ohio’s childcare system such as daycare centers and home-based childcare providers.
“During this extended period of closure, schools should work to provide education through alternative means and school district leadership may make decisions on whether to use their school buildings. Staff members should continue to report to school as directed by administrators.
Over the next 72 hours, the Ohio Department of Education will develop guidance to ensure the continuity of important student services, including a strategy for providing meals.”Ban on Mass Gatherings
Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton has signed an order to prohibit mass gatherings in the state of Ohio.
“Mass gatherings are defined as any event or convening that brings together 100 or more persons in a single room or single space at the same time such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, theater, or any other confined indoor or outdoor space.
This would include parades, fairs, and festivals.
Mass gatherings does not include normal operations of airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and centers, or other spaces where 100 or more persons may be in transit. It also does not include typical office environments, schools, restaurants, factories, or retail/grocery stores where large numbers of people are present, but it is unusual for them to be within arm’s length of one another.”
Additional exclusions are listed in the full Ohio Department of Health order.
“This order will take effect immediately and will remain until the state of emergency declared by the Governor has been rescinded or modified.”Nursing Homes/Senior Living Centers
“At the urging of the nursing home industry, the Ohio Department of Health will soon update its current order limiting visitors to nursing and assisted living homes to reflect that no visitors will be admitted.”Gov. DeWine earlier issued the following recommendation to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in Ohio:
Higher Education
– all universities and colleges in Ohio to screen students returning to school from international travel or cruises, including students returning from spring break travel.
-university-sponsored international travel, non-essential travel, and large gatherings be canceled or postponed.
-College and universities should also consider offering online/remote learning instead of in-person instruction.Religious Institutions
-all religious institutions consider limiting practices that could spread germs, such as shaking hands or sharing a communal cup of wine during communion.
-Those in faith-based communities who are high-risk should consider staying home.
-communities should also consider appropriate outreach to those who may not be able to attend regular services.Adult and Juvenile Correctional Facilities
-visitations at Ohio’s adult and juvenile corrections facilities be suspended.
-contractors who are not critical to the workings of the facility will not be granted entrance. Those who are permitted into these facilities will be screened for symptoms of illness and must submit to a temperature reading.–Source: Ofc. of Gov. Mike DeWine