COLUMBUS – Easton Town Center and Polaris Fashion Place have both announced their plans to reopen when retail stores are allowed to resume conducting business on Tuesday after being shut down for several weeks to control the spread of the coronavirus.
Officials say Easton Town Center and Easton Gateway will begin to reopen in phases with safety protocols in place, including some requirements for wearing masks and limits on gatherings, and the designation of the first hour of each day (Tuesday-Friday from 11:00 a.m. to noon) for shoppers at high risk for contracting the COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
More than 20 restaurants will continue to operate for delivery and carryout with outdoor dining expected to resume May 15 under a plan announced by Gov. Mike DeWine Thursday.
“Easton’s goal is to provide as safe of an environment as possible and that means doing all we can to diminish the risk for our customers,” chief executive Jennifer Peterson said.
Masks or face coverings will be required for all guests, employees and tenants in indoor and outdoor common areas, including parking garages and lots. Exceptions will be made for those with medical conditions who are unable to wear a mask or face covering and those under the age of two.
Other guidelines include no gatherings of four or more people grouped together, six feet of social distance throughout the property and an updated code of conduct that requires young people under the age of 16 to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times.
In observance of Nurses Week (May 5-12) Easton Town Center partnered with several restaurants to deliver almost 4,000 meals to hospital staff, police officers and firefighters around the Columbus area.
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The state reported 24,081 cases of COVID-19 with 1,341 deaths Sunday.
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It was announced this week that the Red, White and BOOM! downtown fireworks display has been canceled due to restrictions on large gatherings.
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COLUMBUS – Nearly $2 million is being sent to health centers in central Ohio to increase coronavirus testing capacity, part of $17.4 million in federal grants awarded to support 51 health centers statewide, Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman announced Thursday.
COVID-19 test funds awarded to central Ohio health centers:
Columbus Neighborhood Health Center…..$818,929
Fairfield Co. Community Health Center….. $211,699
Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers………$248, 059
Lower Lights Christian Health Center……..$284,794
The Ohio State University…………………….. $137, 329
Southeast Community Health Center…… $211,699
The funds were awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help fund the expansion of COVID-19 testing capacity.