Monday is the day businesses will get guidance on how they can begin emerging from the COVID-19 bubble.
After giving indications earlier this week that he might roll out new guidelines by Friday, Gov. Mike DeWine committed to rolling them out on Monday. He also hinted that a Friday announcement would serve in companion with the new guidelines.
He has said returning Ohio to work will begin, in phases, after May 1. But continued to say that following the established protocols of social distancing, disinfecting of surfaces, and wearing of face masks will help the state to emerge as quickly as possible.
“The more we are all able to do to protect each other, the faster we are going to be able to open up the economy,” he said. “There’s a direct relationship there.”
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who has spearheaded the return to work effort, said the standards to open would be “very solid” and also called them “very strict” while adding that no one is required to re-open.
“We are saying these are the standards you must meet to open, you don’t have to open (on May 1), and we would encourage people not to go out if they didn’t feel comfortable and they didn’t feel safe,” Husted said.
DeWine also said, "We want to move forward and not turn around and go back."
When asked why the standards were not ready, DeWine responded by saying they "were just not quite ready" to be released. "We're trying to get this right," he said, adding, "These are significant decisions that impact people's lives from a health point of view and from an economic point of view."
The governor also said he believes the administration will be giving the businesses enough information with enough time to comply.
Husted also held a Town Hall with members of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, including Chillicothe-Ross Chamber CEO Mike Throne, later on Thursday.
Coming next week
The Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce will offer the opportunity to hear from the Ross County Health District on the governor's new standards to re-open businesses after the stay-at-home order is lifted.
We'll do at least one Zoom meeting session to help you navigate the new standards and ask your questions.
We don't have a date or time yet, but it will come about a day after the new standards are released. As soon as we have more information to share, we'll get it out to you.
