‘Stay safe Ohio’ order extends stay at home until May 29, with exceptions

COLUMBUS (WCMH) — During Thursday’s press conference on coronavirus in Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine announced the state’s stay-at-home order will be extended.

Late Thursday, the Ohio Department of Health released information on a new order by ODH Director Dr. Amy Acton, entitled ‘Stay Safe Ohio’ that extends the stay-at-home protocol until May 29.  

“The stay at home order will be extended with the exceptions,” DeWine explained Thursday. “When retail opens up that certainly will be a major exception for that. Certainly it’s an exception in just a few days when manufacturing and other companies are allowed to start back so, it will be extended.”

The ODOH’s release says the order could be changed if Director Dr. Amy Acton modifies it at a sooner date.

The new order states in part “…all individuals currently living within the State of Ohio are ordered to stay at home or at their place of residence except as allowed in this order.” 

“We want to open up, but we must protect the public,” DeWine stressed. “It’s why we have specific protocols, and it’s why we are layering the openings.”

Back on April 2, Gov. DeWine extended Ohio’s stay-at-home order until May 1. Health care procedures that do not require an overnight hospital stay can move forward starting Friday, May 1.

In his Monday announcement on the plan to reopen Ohio, Gov. DeWine said retail shops across Ohio can begin reopening May 12 as long as they follow strict rules to keep both customers and employees safe.

DeWine has not yet announced when restaurants, barbershops, salons and other service industries can reopen, but he has set up a group to make their reopen possible.

Here’s a recap of when different businesses and procedures can move forward and reopen: