Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine replaced coronavirus restrictions Tuesday with “strong recommendations,” pushing the state closer to total reopening.
“We are now moving from orders to strong recommendations,” DeWine said during his Tuesday press briefing. “This is a new phase in our battle against the virus.”
The “Safe at Home” order, implemented May 1, which lifted the statewide stay-at-home order and reopened some businesses, will now be called the “Urgent Health Advisory: Ohioans Protecting Ohioans” order.
DeWine’s “Safe at Home” order, meant to remain in effect through May 29, attracted criticism from fellow Republicans in the state Legislature, who said the restrictions would keep businesses closed for long periods of time. House Speaker Larry Householder said last month that Republicans in the House felt that DeWine “largely disregarded” the party’s suggestions for rolling back restrictions on businesses, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Travelers into the state will still be required to self-isolate for two weeks, and a ban on some gatherings of more than 10 people is still in place.
Social distancing measures, such as maintaining a 6-foot distance from another person, will stay in place as part of the new “Ohioans Protecting Ohioans” advisory. The advisory also recommends that the most vulnerable Ohioans, mainly senior citizens, stay at home as much as possible. Restrictions on “unnecessary travel” within the state are now lifted.
“What this comes down to now is that each of us has a responsibility to each other, to slow the spread,” DeWine said. “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.”
