Ohio is now a free state.
Gov. Mike DeWine lifted additional mandatory restrictions Monday, cutting short the state’s shelter-in-place order and urging businesses to be mindful of health officials’ guidelines as they begin to reopen.
“We are now moving from orders to strong recommendations,” DeWine said.
Ohio began the reopening process May 1, and a couple of key restrictions will still be in place: Patrons at bars and restaurants must remain seated 6 feet away from others, and social gatherings of more than 10 people are still forbidden. But because the state hasn’t seen a new spike in COVID-19 cases, DeWine says he’s confident the state can continue moving forward.
DeWine has faced criticism from his Republican colleagues over the past few months for taking what seemed like drastic measures to flatten the curve. And he certainly deserves some of that criticism. He has defended Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton’s emergency powers despite the state legislature’s attempts to curb them, and he delayed the state’s primary election despite a court order questioning his authority to do so.
But Ohio’s progress is proof that quick, decisive leadership works, as long as it is prudently administered. And prudence is indeed what sets DeWine apart from some of his fellow governors. He acted only when the need was immediate, and as soon as that need began to diminish, he relinquished power back to the people.
And his state is better off for it. Confirmed cases have been consistently dropping statewide, and businesses are also starting to get back on their feet. This is the kind of recovery that we had all hoped for, but few states have managed to make it a reality for various reasons.
I’ve spent the past few days in Ohio, and I have to admit: It’s been nice to be able to go out to eat with family, head to a bar with friends, and attend church in person. These pleasures are small in the grand scheme of things, and we can live without them, as we have for the past few months. But there are other things we cannot live without: community, stability, and, most importantly, an income.
DeWine’s order will help restore those things to Ohioans. The rest of the nation would be wise to follow suit.