COLUMBUS, Ohio — With Gov. Mike DeWine expected to release his plan to gradually reopen the state following weeks under the stay at home order, members of the Ohio House of Representatives Democratic Caucus and GOP members of the General Assembly of Ohio have outlined recommendations they want to see addressed under the reopening.
The Ohio House of Representatives Democratic Caucus listed the following 10 “areas of focus” that they hope DeWine follows as he opens the state back up:
- Testing
- Tracing
- Hygiene
- Childcare
- Vulnerable populations
- Worker protections
- Consumer Confidence
- Support for business
- General Election
- Public Awareness
Ohio’s House Democrats call their recommendations a “responsible restart” for Ohio. They said the recommendations are based on testimony during the OHIO 2020 Economic Recovery Task Force proceedings as well as advice they received from experts.
Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued the following statement:
As we begin this incremental process of “re-opening” our state, we must proceed with caution. As Governor DeWine said, ‘We save our economy by first saving lives and we do it in that order.’ While Ohioans have successfully flattened the curve by staying home, there is a very real risk for a second spike if we are not cautious moving forward. There is proof that countries who have not put in place adequate procedures have found themselves in a second surge where illness and deaths spiked.
House Democrats are committed to getting Ohioans back to work, but maintain that relaxing of social distancing measures without proper precautions will lead to more death. As a result, we believe the state should follow the federal Center for Disease Control Guidelines for Reopening America. We must follow the advice of medical experts which suggest to maintain social distancing until there are 14 consecutive days of decreasing incidences of infection before starting the process to “re-open”. We must ensure that everyone feels safe re-engaging in society by ensuring that there’s a clear plan and everyone knows what to expect from the business they patronize and the places where they are employed.
Based on the testimony heard during the task force proceedings, coupled with the feedback we are receiving from our own constituents and local experts, we have identified 10 main areas that Ohioans need to hear clear plans if we are to ‘re-open.’ We welcome the opportunity to work with our legislative colleagues on the other side of the aisle as well as the governor to create a framework for a responsible restart for Ohio.”
Twenty-eight GOP members of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio also issued their own recommendations for DeWine to follow as he reopens the state. Their recommendations call for the reopening of all businesses on or before May 1, stating their belief that all businesses are essential.
The guidelines focus on Ohioans following best practices to prevent the spread of the virus and holding themselves accountable rather than being mandated by the state.
To read the full recommendation, click here.
DeWine is expected to outline his plan to reopen the state during his press conference Monday at 2 p.m.
RELATED: 85% of Ohioans approve of Gov. Mike DeWine's handling of pandemic, poll says
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Read our daily Coronavirus Live Blog for the latest updates and news on coronavirus.
We're Open! Northeast Ohio is place created by News 5 to open us up to new ways of thinking, new ways of gathering and new ways of supporting each other.
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Ohio, a timeline of Governor Mike DeWine's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Northeast Ohio, and link to more information from the Ohio Department of Health, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the CDC and the WHO.
See data visualizations showing the impact of coronavirus in Ohio, including county-by-county maps, charts showing the spread of the disease, and more.
The federal government has begun distributing $1,200 Economic Impact Payments to millions of Americans to help relieve the economic burden caused by coronavirus. Click here for everything you need to know about checking the status and receiving these payments.
The CDC and the Ohio Department of Health are now recommending the use of cloth face coverings in public to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Read more about the CDC's recommendation here. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a face mask from common household materials, without having to know how to sew.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
Here is everything you need to know about testing for coronavirus in Ohio.
Here's a list of things in Northeast Ohio closed due to coronavirus concerns
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
