COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Retail businesses can open up under certain conditions beginning Saturday, almost two weeks earlier than previously stated, according to a surprise condition in Ohio’s latest stay-at-home order issued Friday.
The 14-page directive from Health Director Dr. Amy Acton says currently closed retail establishments can begin offering curbside pickup or delivery on Saturday. In addition, stores that restrict operations to 10 customers on an “appointment-only” basis can reopen Saturday.
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine had said all week that retail businesses could not reopen until May 12. DeWine planned to discuss the new order at his Friday press briefing, spokesman Dan Tierney said.
Consistent with DeWine’s earlier announcements, health care offices were allowed to reopen Friday, followed by construction companies, distributors, manufacturers and offices on Monday, May 4. Bars and movie theaters remain closed, along with in-person dining at restaurants, which are permitted to offer carryout. Sporting events and concerts are still prohibited.
Masks are mandatory for employees returning to reopened businesses and strongly recommended for customers and clients under the Ohio order. Businesses have the authority to require customers to wear masks, and some — like Costco — have already done so.
Republican state Rep. Nino Vitale, who’s among the more than 30 GOP lawmakers calling for all businesses to reopen right away, blasted the latest order issued by health director.
“Now when you go to bed at night, you have NO IDEA what your rights will be when you get up in the morning,” he wrote on his Facebook page Friday.
In other coronavirus-related developments in Ohio:
CASES
The state has 975 presumptive or confirmed virus-related deaths, and more than 18,000 cases, including more than 3,500 hospitalizations, the state health department reported Thursday.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a couple of weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are at higher risk of more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.
___
CARE
Kroger opened its first Columbus drive-thru site for coronavirus testing on Thursday, with capacity for 330 tests a day, and planned to open another in Cincinnati on Friday. The company previously added Ohio sites in Toledo, Bowling Green and suburban Dayton, along with Detroit and Denver.
___
PRISONS
Two prison employees and 28 Ohio prison inmates have died from COVID-19, according to the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Nearly 4,000 inmates have tested positive, but the prisons agency has only conducted universal testing at three facilities to date, meaning the actual number of positive cases is unknown.
___
Seewer in Toledo reported from Toledo. Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus contributed to this report.
The Ohio reopening plan
CIRCLEVILLE — This week, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has begun laying the groundwork for reopening businesses that have been temporarily closed for over a month.
DeWine’s plan to restart the economy begins on May 1 when all necessary medical procedures that do not require an overnight stay will be able to resume; this includes regular doctor visits, well-care checks, well-baby visits, out-patient surgeries, imaging procedures and diagnostic tests. Dental services and veterinary services may also proceed if a safe environment can be established.
Beginning May 4, manufacturing, distribution and construction will open back up. General office environments may reopen on this day as well.
Then on May 12, consumer, retail and service businesses can reopen. DeWine recently stated that the public is not required to wear face coverings but he is still asking that all employees wear some type of facial coverings.
The following is a list of some the operations that will continue to remain closed until further notice:
• Schools and daycares
• Dine-in restaurants and bars (carry-out is still permitted)
• Personal appearance and beauty businesses
• Older adult daycare serveries and senior centers
• Adult day support or vocational rehabilitation services in group settings
• Gyms
• Gambling industries
• Auditoriums, stadiums and arenas
• Movie theaters, performance theaters, and concert and music halls
• Public recreation centers and indoor sports facilities
• Parades, fairs, festivals and carnivals
• Amusement parks, theme parks, outdoor water parks, children’s play centers and playgrounds
• Aquariums, zoos, museums, historical sites and similar institutions
• Country clubs and social clubs
• Spectator sports, recreational sports tournaments and organized recreational sports leagues
• Swimming pools, whether public or private, except swimming pools for single households
• And campgrounds, including recreational camps and recreational vehicle (RV) parks.
For the operations that will reopen, DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton have put forth guidelines that all must follow:
• Employees will be required to wear face coverings and clients and customers are encouraged to wear them as well.
• Daily health assessments or self-evaluations of employees should be conducted to determine if they should work.
• Staff members must maintain good hygiene at all times such as hand washing and social distancing.
• Cleaning and sanitizing workplaces throughout the day and at the close of business or between shifts is required.
• And capacity should be limited to meet social distancing guidelines.