What's Closed In Ohio Under New Stay-At-Home Order

COLUMBUS, OH — Gov. Mike DeWine has officially extended Ohio's stay-at-home order. The new mandate includes exceptions for certain industries, allowing them to reopen. However, many activities and businesses will remain closed by state order.

"We're trying to phase openings in. We're trying to continue to buy us some time so that we don't have the curve going straight up again," DeWine said during his daily news conference on Thursday.

On Friday, elective surgical procedures, dental offices and veterinarians were able to reopen. On Monday, general offices, manufacturing, construction and distribution facilities will resume business, and consumer retail start again on May 12. All open companies will have to follow safety and health guidelines, or risk being shut down by state health officials.

While some sectors of Ohio industry prepare to come back online, other parts of daily life will remain shuttered. Here's what is explicitly unable to restart:

• Social gatherings of 10 or more people
• Wedding receptions with 10 or more people
• Schools
• Child care service
• Dine-in restaurants and bars
• Personal appearance and beauty parlors
• Older adult day care services and senior centers
• Adult day support or vocational rehabilitation services in group settings
• Entertainment, recreation and gyms

People who leave Ohio and then return are still asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. That order does not apply to people who may commute regularly into a neighboring Ohio state.

Violating the state's stay-at-home order is a misdemeanor. Violators could be fined up to $750 or spend 90 days in jail.

"We want to open up, but we must protect the public - it's why we have specific protocols, and it's why we are layering the openings," DeWine said.

Every employee at an open business will have to wear a face covering, there must be daily health evaluations of employees, good hygiene practices must be followed, limited capacity in buildings and regular cleaning of all surfaces. If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, that must be reported to the local health department. If possible, the floor should be shut down for a deep cleaning.

The new stay-at-home order will remain in place through May 29.