SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio — Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and Summit County Health Commissioner Donna Skoda issued a Stay At Home Health Advisory on Thursday in response to the surge in COVID-19 cases in the state and the county.
The advisory, effective immediately, will remain in place until Dec. 16 unless an additional advisory is issued.
Advisories are voluntary.
The advisory urges all residents of Summit County to stay at home “to the greatest extent possible” with COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations on the rise.
Residents are asked to only leave home to go to work or school, or for essential needs such as seeking medical care, going to the grocery store or pharmacy, picking up food or receiving deliveries, the county said.
Traveling in and out of the state is also asked to be avoided, as is having guests over during the upcoming holiday season. Instead, Summit County officials are encouraging residents to utilize online communication with extended family and friends this year.
As part of the advisory, businesses and local governments are urged to move as many transactions and functions as possible to an online setting and schools are being directed to monitor cases within their district and community when making decisions about in-person or remote learning.
Meetings and social events are advised to be held to 10 people or fewer, at both indoor and outdoor events, birthday parties and other banquet hall events. Private gatherings indoors with guests are strongly discouraged.
Residents are also strongly advised to wear a mask and observe social distancing.
“We are quickly approaching a tipping point in the county and the state. We must take collective action beginning today. If we do not, we are putting the lives of our friends, family and neighbors at risk and threatening the ability of our hospitals to provide care to patients,” Shapiro said in a press release. “We have all made immense sacrifices this year. We all are feeling exhausted, but I am asking the residents of Summit County to continue to prioritize the health and safety of our community.”
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