Ohio moves from orders to strong recommendations

DGKN staff report

Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tuesday the state has moved from orders to strong recommendations in its fight against COVID-19. The new advisory incorporates 6 feet of social distancing; a limit of 10 people for mass gatherings; frequent hand-washing; and other sanitizing efforts, according to DeWine’s Twitter account following his news conference.

The advisory also incorporates all of the business orders regarding social distancing and sanitation, including employees wearing masks, as well as efforts to protect employees and the public.

The health advisory recommends (but does not require) that Ohioans stay at home when possible to decrease the rate of spread of the virus. High-risk Ohioans are still strongly encouraged to stay at home as much as possible.

The governor also announced travel restrictions are lifted but unnecessary travel within or outside the state is not encouraged.

“The coronavirus is not gone. It is real. And it is deadly. This new phase that we are now in is about learning to live with this virus. It is with us — it will remain with us — and we must do all we can to contain it and keep it from killing our fellow citizens,” according to the governor’s Twitter account. “What this comes down to now is that each of us has a responsibility to each other to slow the spread. No other time in our lives will our individual actions play a greater role in saving the lives of so many of our fellow citizens.”