Ohio's order moves to strong advisory

Travel prohibitions lifted, social distancing is still recommended.

— Gov. Mike DeWine

COLUMBUS on Tuesday pivoted from past orders regarding the coronavirus pandemic to issuing what he called “strong recommendations” moving forward regarding social distancing, mass gatherings and other measures.

The “Safe At Home” order will be gone, and the new “Urgent Health Advisory: Ohioans Protecting Ohioans” will be implemented, DeWine announced at his afternoon press conference.

The switch from a public health order to an urgent health advisory is part of the state’s transition away from more strict stayat-home orders. Those orders no longer matched the recent changes made in reopening segments of the Ohio economy, DeWine explained.

“We have flattened the curve, and that has been great work by all of you,” he said.

The new advisory strongly recommends that high-risk Ohioans stay home as much as possible and that they avoid places where they are more likely to see a lot of people. It incorporates six feet of social distancing, a limit of 10 people at gatherings, frequent hand-washing and sanitizing, plus it includes business orders about social distancing, sanitizing and requiring employees to wear masks.

“Ohioans take care of Ohio- ans — that’s at the core of what we do,” DeWine said.

DeW i ne stressed t he importance of people taking personal responsibil- ity and reminded Ohioans that just because you are at a lower risk for the virus, you could still pass it on to someone who is higher risk.

Senate President Larry Obhof, R-Medina, said in a written statement that Ohioans flattened the curve and posi- tioned the state for economic recovery.

“Rescinding the stay-athome order and lifting Ohio’s travel prohibitions mark a significant new step in this process,” Obhof said. “Ohio is leading the way for the rest of the Midwest today.”

The “Safe At Home” order was issued May 1, and DeWine said then it was not a “stay-at-home order,” though it encouraged people to stay home.

That confusion came into play Tuesday when Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said the expiring order “technically said you had to stay at home, other than a list of exceptions.”

“Now, it essentially is going to say it’s recommended, but not required,” Husted said during the press conference.

People returning to Ohio will no longer be asked to self-quarantine when returning to the state. Travel restrictions are eliminated — though unnecessary travel is not encouraged.

The Ohio Department of Health on Tue s day reported 28,952 total cases a nd 1,720 deaths attributed to coronavirus. There have been a total of 5,117 hospitalizations due to the virus during the pan- demic with 1,357 intensive care unit admissions.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correc- tions reported on Tuesday a fourth staff member died of complications associated with the virus. Corrections Officer Dewane “Pete” Gan- non, 58, worked at the Correctional Reception Center and lived in Mt. Sterling. He started working at the center on July 19, 2010.

‘Ohioans take care of Ohioans — that’s at the core of what

we do.’

Gov. Mike DeWine