• Gov. DeWine and Lt. Gov. Husted have been in constant communication with the ORA to discuss this announcement and potential additional steps to limit the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus and additional ways the state can alleviate the impact on businesses and employees. We appreciate the direct partnership with the administration.

• The ORA requested that the State of Ohio allow restaurants to remain open until the State believes a next step may be required.

• We asked for and successfully received an exemption from the State to specifically allow restaurants and foodservice locations to continue to offer takeout, curbside pickup and delivery of food to customers.

• This is important considering that approximately 50 percent of the U.S. food dollar comes through the restaurant industry.

• Restaurants should focus on heightened internal operations to ensure cleanliness of back-of-the house and front-of-the house, food preparation and packaging for:
• Takeout
• Curbside pickup
• Drive-thru
• Delivery

• We encourage all foodservice establishments to double down on cleanliness standards and procedures as outlined by ServSafe.

• The DeWine administration is concerned about gatherings that were likely to occur on St. Patrick’s Day on May 17, 2020.   

• The CDC states that people should stay at least 6 feet (or two meters) away from anyone who appears sick to minimize the risk of getting the new coronavirus. Read more.

• As of Sunday at 2:00PM in Ohio, there were 36 confirmed cases, up from 26 on Saturday, 139 negative cases, and 350 individuals under investigation. There are confirmed cases in the following counties across the state: Cuyahoga, Stark, Belmont, Butler, Summit, Trumbull, Franklin and Lorain. 

• The governor has already banned mass gatherings of 100 people or more and taken other steps to prevent large gatherings of people.

• The order will be signed by Health Director Amy Acton on Sunday, the governor said at a Statehouse news conference.
• "This is a very, very crucial time," he said. "Delay means more people will die. Literally every day we delay, the data clearly shows more people will die."

• The governor said he is aware that this order will be devastating for many small businesses, and result in many Ohioans losing their jobs. He said, however, the step is essential.