COLUMBUS, Ohio — Under the new order issued by Gov. Mike DeWine, consumer, retail and service businesses will be able to fully reopen on May 12, but can start offering curbside, delivery and appointments beginning at 11:59 p.m. Friday, allowing shoppers to help replenish Ohio’s economy. With stores allowed to operate, however, many have expressed concern about how a surge in shoppers may lead to increased spread of COVID-19.
When it comes to those concerns, DeWine believes that come May 12, the retailers, consumer and service businesses will follow the state’s recommended best practices, as will customers and guests, to minimize the spread of the virus.
Beginning Friday, May 1, retailers that restrict their operations to curbside pickup, delivery or appointment-only with no more than 10 people in the store at a time may reopen as of 11:59 p.m., according to the new order.
In addition to best practices DeWine and his team have outlined for these businesses, their employees, their customers and their guests, the governor believes many companies will innovate to help keep people healthy and safe.
From curbside pickups at grocery stores to scheduling appointments at businesses such as jewelry stores and furniture stores, many companies have started to think of ways to reduce the number of people in the store at a time, minimizing their contact with others. Companies that are able to to use these types of innovation will be able to operate again before May 12.
As businesses open and people are able to go out and shop, the state hopes they’ll proceed with caution and keep their fellow Ohioans in mind every time they leave their home.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted pointed to the order’s name change—from a “stay at home order,” to a “stay safe order”— to be what he called a representation of “a next phase.”
RELATED: Stay at home order extended until May 29, renamed 'Safe Safe Ohio' as businesses reopen
The next phase is one in which Ohio’s economy opens back up and allows people to return to work while keeping a strong focus on following “best practices” and health guidelines to keep Ohioans safe, especially those who may be more vulnerable to the severe effects of COVID-19.
“You may not deem yourself as vulnerable, but there are a lot of people out there who are,” Husted said. “And this is designed to protect them.”
So while you may be able to buy a new patio set or go out and get a new watch under Ohio’s new order, it’s under the premise that you’ll keep your fellow Ohioans in mind if or when you do, by following the best practices outlined by the state.
Here are the guidelines for consumer, retail and service businesses employees, guests and customers as listed by the state:
Employees
Mandatory
- Ensure min 6 ft between people, if not possible, install barriers
- Face coverings are required while employers and employees are on the job, unless any one of the following apply:
- An employee in a particular position is prohibited by a law or regulation from wearing a face covering while on the job
- A face covering is not advisable for health purposes
- Wearing a face covering on the job is against documented industry best practices
- Wearing a face covering violates a company’s safety policies
- There is a practical reason a face covering cannot be worn
- An employee is sitting alone in an enclosed work-space. (If any of these exceptions apply to your business, or one of your employees, written justification must be provided upon request.)
- Employees must perform daily symptom assessment*
- Require employees to stay home if symptomatic
- Require regular handwashing
- Place hand sanitizers in high-contact locations
- Clean high-touch items after each use (e.g. carts, baskets)
Recommended Best Practices
- Customers and guests should wear a face covering. They are not required to wear a face covering.
- Group employees by shift to reduce exposure
Customers and Guests
Mandatory
- Ensure minimum 6 ft between people
- Specify hours for at-risk populations (e.g. elderly)
- Place hand sanitizers in high-contact locations
- Ask customers and guests not to enter if symptomatic
- Stagger entry of customers and guests
Recommended Best Practices
- Face coverings are recommended while shopping or visiting
- Health questionnaire for symptoms at entry point
- Provide face coverings upon entry
- Where possible, accept customers by appointment only
- Increase availability for curb-side pickup
- Consider suspending return policies
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.
