Ohio Leaders Loosen Coronavirus Safety Guidelines

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio leaders will replace some statewide mandates for individuals, opting instead for "strong suggestions," Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday. The governor then issued an "urgent health advisory" he called "Ohioans protecting Ohioans."

The advisory contains many of the same guidelines that the stay-at-home order did, but the guidelines are no longer mandatory. The new advisory recommends maintaining social distancing and lifts travel restrictions. Also, Ohioans are no longer mandated to stay at home. Businesses will still need to follow the previously outlined health and safety regulations and mass gatherings are still prohibited.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said Ohio leaders want to loosen restrictions and give Ohioans "more control over their lives." He said COVID-19 is still a threat, but public officials and business leaders have learned more. "Without a vaccine, we had to learn how to live with COVID-19 in our lives."

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The governor said it is incumbent upon individual Ohioans to choose to protect one another. He then laid out specific recommendations for certain Ohioans.

"We are now moving from orders to strong recommendations," DeWine said. "This is a new phase in our battle against COVID-19, and it is incumbent upon each of us to protect each other."

Ohioans over 65 and medically-vulnerable Ohioans are being urged to stay home whenever possible, limit their trips out, maintain social distancing and continue rigorous hygiene practices.

"For everyone else living in Ohio, we call upon your sense of responsibility to others," DeWine said. He noted that the new advisory does not require Ohioans to stay home, but encourages them to take precautions to limit the spread of the new coronavirus.

The state's restrictions on travel and rules for people coming into Ohio will be lifted, DeWine said.

By the end of May, 95 percent of the Ohio economy will have reopened, Husted said Tuesday.

Tuesday's Numbers

There were 460 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Ohio on Tuesday, the state health department announced. There have now been 28,952 confirmed cases of the virus in Ohio since the outbreak began in the state.

There were also 63 new COVID-19-related deaths in Ohio announced on Tuesday.

Here are how many new COVID-19 cases were added each day this week in Ohio:

Sunday — 449

Monday — 531

Tuesday — 498

More reading:

• New Coronavirus Cases Will Increase In Ohio, Model Predicts
• 'Follow Safety Guidelines Or Close,' Ohio Governor Warns Bars