Coronavirus Pandemic: Face mask policy clarified, graduation ceremonies addressed

Face masks moved to the spotlight again Wednesday as the plan to reopen Ohio beginning May 1 continues to develop.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted offered clarity in the state’s requirements for face masks:

If you are a customer in an Ohio business, you should wear a face covering, but you aren’t required. You should wear it to protect others. It’s about mutual respect.
Employees: Face coverings are required when you are on the job. Exceptions for employers and employees include when:
An employee in a particular position is prohibited by a law or regulation from wearing a face covering while on the job.
Wearing a face covering on the job is against documented industry best practices.
Wearing a face covering is not advisable for health purposes.
If wearing a face covering is a violation of a company’s safety policies.
An employee is sitting alone in an enclosed workspace.
There is a practical reason a face covering cannot be worn by an employee.

If any of the exceptions apply to businesses they must provide written justification upon request, Husted said.

DeWine said he decided masks will no longer be a requirement in retail establishments after hearing from some state residents.

DeWine is holding another news conference at 2 p.m.

The following announcements were made:

Last week, the state shipped 4.1 million pieces of PPE to local EMAs across Ohio. “While not the first shipment, this is the largest one-time distribution of PPE, we think, from the state of Ohio to the local EMAs in our history,” DeWine said. The units are being delivered by local EMAs to nursing homes, jails, congregate living facilities, hospitals and first responders. Included in this PPE is: 500,000 N95 masks, 850,000 face shields, 750,000 surgical-type masks and 2 million medical gloves.
Law enforcement now has nearly $16 million in grant funding available for criminal justice agencies to help prepare and respond to the spread of coronavirus. The funding can be used for cleaning supplies, overtime costs, new tech for virtual court hearings, inmate medical needs and supplies for COVID-19 monitoring and testing in local jails. Agencies may apply for up to 12 months of funding, and there is no local match required.
Social distancing must be of the utmost importance when it comes to planning graduation ceremonies, DeWine said. The Ohio Department of Health and Ohio Department of Education are recommending virtual graduation ceremonies as the preferred way to handle graduations. Second, they are recommending a drive-thru style graduation and third is a ceremony with 10 or less people at a time following social distancing protocols. Additional guidance will be shared later today.
DeWine announced that the state guidelines call for no more than 10 people at any graduation parties that are planned by families.
DeWine shared information on the urgency needed for social security recipients who have not filed a tax return and have eligible children to file with the IRS by May 5 to receive the additional $500 per child payment for the CARE Act stimulus checks.

Latest state data:

As of Wednesday afternoon, there are 17,303 cases in the state, 937 deaths, and 3,421 hospitalizations, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Ohio has an estimated population of approximately 11.7 million, census records show.

The state’s long-term care facilities have seen 17 percent of the total cases in Ohio.

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Of the state’s positive cases, 22% are from Ohio’s prisons. At those prisons, there has been an increase in testing.

[ Local cases, deaths reported to Ohio Department of Health ]

There have been 128,206 people tested for coronavirus in Ohio. In the state, 2,797 cases are health care workers, which is 16 percent of the cases.

It is important to note the number of confirmed cases is not a true reflection of actual cases in the state because of the limited amount of testing available. The hope is that the number of cases will be more accurate because of the expansion of the testing standards.

The state remains under an extended stay-at-home order until May 1.

Things you should know today, Wednesday:

FACE MASKS: “Though it is not a mandate, it is clearly in the best interest for Ohioans to wear a mask in retail settings. This gives added protection to others,” the governor said. Business owners can require customers to wear masks. “They can make a decision that those coming in the door need to wear a protective covering.”
RESTAURANTS/HAIR SALONS: The governor is working to organize groups to look at the processes to reopen restaurants and hair salons. “The goal of this group then is to develop recommendations for their businesses that balance the need to protect the health of employees and customers as they reopen to the public,” he said.
DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENTS: Acton said it’s time for people to beginning thinking about scheduling their children’s well visits as well as other appointments such as mammograms, vaccinations.
FLUSH WATER LINES: Acton urged businesses that have been closed to make sure they flush water that has been stagnant in cold and hot water distribution lines and fixtures. Low water usage can contribute to bacterial growth including Legionella, which can cause a serious type of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease, or unsafe levels of metals in the water like lead and copper.
WORST DAYS PASSED?: President Trump suggested “the worst days” of the pandemic are over. He expressed optimism Tuesday about the nation’s path to economic recovery during the pandemic, which has forced businesses to close and caused millions of layoffs because of state issued stay-at-home orders. “Now that our experts believe that the worst days of the pandemic are behind us," he said. “Americans are looking forward to the safe and rapid reopening of our country.”