COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — Referring to their latest actions as Ohio's "weapons of war," Governor Mike DeWine and health director Dr. Amy Acton on Sunday issued a "stay-at-home" order to all Ohioans, using legal action to attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus in the state.
The order, signed on Sunday afternoon, identifies essential businesses for the state and society in Ohio, and declares that all other non-essential business must cease as of 11:59 PM on Monday. The order will keep those business closed until the morning of Monday, April 6th.
"What we do now will slow this invader (COVID-19), so that our healthcare system. will have time to treat those who have come down with COVID-19," DeWine said. "We have to buy that time. We have to do it by the strong actions you all have been taking. And we're now at a new stage."
You can read the full stay-at-home order, including a list of essential types of business exempted from the order, by clicking below:
The move came as Ohio's confirmed cases of COVID-19 coronavirus jumped by more than 100 on Sunday. 351 people in the state were confirmed to have contracted the virus, up from 247 on Saturday. The state's death toll resulting from coronavirus remained at three.
Essential businesses as defined by the Department of Homeland Security were exempted from Sunday's order. The order also allows people to leave home for essential activities like grocery shopping, medical appointment, grocery and pharmacy shopping, and outdoor activities.
DeWine encouraged the use of state and local parks on Sunday, but noted that the new order would also close all municipally-operated playgrounds in Ohio.
"You can leave home to take care of others. You can take care of your neighbor, your family, your friend," DeWine urged. He also clarified that victims of recent rainstorms and flooding in Licking County and Central Ohio would still be allowed to seek property repairs from in-home contractors and restoration companies. A spokesman said the governor is not currently considering additional emergency declarations as a result of the flooding, but has not ruled out the possibility.
The order also created new restrictions for child daycare in Ohio. As of Thursday, all daycares in the state which have received a "pandemic license" must operate at a maximum capacity of six children per room plus one caretaker.
Dr. Amy Acton, the state's health director who has driven the recent policies on coronavirus, said on Sunday that the orders were not meant to close down the state or cause panic.
“I believe that life is not shutting us down now. Life seems like it’s shutting down, but I feel life is waking us up," said Dr. Acton. "I see a vision of a future that is brighter than now.”
Essential businesses must still adhere to provisions in the order which call for work-from-home options, and only "minimum basic operations" in shared offices or work spaces.
"You're heroic when you stay at home, and watch your neighbor who's a nurse's child," said Dr. Acton. "Everyone is being heroic right now. And I can tell you that every action you take is mattering."
The health director said on Sunday that Ohio still suffers from an "incredible testing shortage." She said rapid testing for COVID-19 is likely at least a month away.