Ohio Restaurants Will Look Different When They Reopen

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio restaurants and bars can allow customers inside again on May 21, Gov. Mike DeWine announced this week. Before diners can nestle into booths and enjoy a meal and a drink, restaurants will need to follow new mandates from the state.

"This is a good day as we continue to reopen Ohio, but this is a high-risk operation. It would be high-risk if we didn't do anything - if we sat back and said we can't do anything," DeWine said after announcing bars and restaurants could reopen.

While also laying out the health and safety guidelines for reopening, DeWine urged Ohioans to carefully consider their own situation before venturing into a crowded restaurant. "Your decisions will help our economy and keep others safe," he said.

Here are the new safety guidelines all restaurants must follow upon reopening:

• Ensure there is at least 6 feet of distance between employees
  • If spacing is impossible, install a barrier between employees
• Ensure there is at least 6 feet of distance between customers, if not possible utilize barriers
• Ask sick customers to not enter the restaurant
• Parties at restaurants and bars may have no more than 10 people
• The entire facility must be cleaned daily and high-contact areas must be cleaned every two hours
• Establish distanced ordering and waiting areas, if applicable to your restaurant
• Self-serve tables should be removed
• Spaces in bars and restaurants not dedicated to the serving of food and drinks must remain closed (for instance, a billiards room)
• If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, the restaurant should shut down their work area and do a deep cleaning
  • The restaurant must also contact the local health department about the case
• All employees must wear face coverings unless wearing such a covering is dangerous to that employee or against industry regulations
• Employees who show signs of sickness must stay home
• COVID-19 education must be provided to all employees
• Only a limited number of employees are allowed in a break room at any given moment