Outdoor Visitation Can Start Soon At Ohio's Assisted Living Homes

COLUMBUS, OH — Starting June 8, assisted living facilities can allow outdoor visitation for patients, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday. Visitation can also begin June 8 at intermediate care facilities for people with developmental disabilities.

"Our decision to move forward with outdoor visitation is the culmination of several things including: the impact on the quality of life a prolonged loss of connection can have on an individual, requests from families and residents, and consultation with advocates and providers," DeWine said.

The governor said officials would watch to see if cases of the new coronavirus spike at nursing homes once visitation is allowed. Each facility will independently determine how to implement outdoor visitation safely.

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Allowing Junior Fairs

While the Ohio State Fair and many county fairs have already been cancelled, DeWine said "junior fairs" could proceed this summer.

The junior fairs would allow kids to participate in limited livestock shows and take part in other activities. County fair boards, agricultural societies and local health departments will need to work together to determine how to safely proceed with junior fairs.

"Conditions may change over the summer, but we are asking all fair boards to comply with all of the Ohio Department of Health orders in place and the guidelines for other sectors that would also apply to fairs, like for food service and rides," DeWine said.

County and independent fairs will determine on their own if they will proceed this summer.

Business News

The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation will defer Ohio employers' premium installments for the months of June, July and August. DeWine said this decision will help businesses focus on the safety of employees and customers.

Thursday's Numbers

Hospitalizations and intensive care admissions caused by COVID-19 were up again on Thursday, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health. Over the past three weeks, Ohio had averaged 80 new hospitalizations daily and 17 new intensive care admissions daily.

In the past 24 hours, 111 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19 and 24 people entered intensive care because of complications caused by the virus.

At least 54 Ohioans died because of complications from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, up versus the state's three-week average of 39 new COVID-19 deaths daily.

While hospitalizations, intensive care admissions and deaths were up versus their three-week daily averages, the state's confirmed new cases were down. Ohio added at least 476 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, down versus the three-week average of 561 new cases daily.

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