Governor announces Ohio's plan to begin reopening of state

The decision of how and when to ease the restrictions for the stay-at-home order has been something governors across the U.S. are struggling with.
With Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's stay-at-home order currently set to expire on May 1, today he announced the state's plan to begin slowly reopening the state amidst the coronavirus pandemic. He cautioned that changes will come slowly and mass gatherings are still far in the future.
When asked DeWine was lifting the stay-at-home order, he asked that people "be reasonable, be rational. Use common sense"
The Governor discussed where we have been and where we are going amid these trying times. He said Ohio is able to start planning to reopen because of how Ohioans stepped up to slow the spread.
He also reminded all that the virus still remains and is still as dangerous as ever. He reminded all to keep apart, handwashing, sanitizing, and wearing masks are still essential.
The governor said the "how" of reopening is the most important part.
"With any decision, there is a risk, DeWine said. "Doing nothing is a risk."
He announced that beginning May 1, all procedures in hospitals that do not require an overnight stay may resume.
Also on May 1, dental offices and veterinarian offices in Ohio will be allowed to reopen as well. DeWine said returning is an option and not a mandate.
On May 4, manufacturing, distribution, and construction businesses are to resume their operations, with all employees must have a face covering, must conduct daily health assessments, and continue other COVID-19 protocols.
DeWine asked that companies continue to have their staff that can work from home that can.
Beginning May 12, all retail stores that are open for business, employees must wear masks. DeWine asked that all Ohioans wear masks, including those going into stores to shop, however, noted he will not be mandating that.
DeWine noted that other openings would be coming down the road for such business as restaurants, personal-care businesses, but wanted to get phase one launched which offers less risk of additional spread of the coronavirus.
DeWine said the last phase for reopening will be events of mass gathering, noting, unfortunately, these are the items people love, including concerts, and sporting events.
A group of 32 Republican House members called for an immediate reopening of all businesses Monday. The group’s plan said businesses should follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 guidelines.
Since April 24, several states had begun to loosen the stay-at-home orders. Alaska's Gov. Mike Dunleavy allowed salons and restaurants to reopen for most of the state. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is allowing churches and restaurant dining to resume, and some personal-care businesses reopening (hair salons, barbershops, spas, nail salons, and pet groomers). In California, some closed beaches reopened. Each state is still mandating that businesses and people must follow the strict guidelines of maintaining social distancing, handwashing, and other rules, which vary by state. In Georgia, while the number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb, Gov. Brian Kemp has begun his reopening plan, allowing hair and nail salons, gyms, bowling alleys, tattoo studios, and massage therapists to resume operating, and theaters and restaurants to follow today. The reopenings are starting despite warnings from health experts, local mayors, and even President Donald Trump. Businesses that do reopen still must try to maintain social distancing and take steps to keep their staff and customers safe. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Monday that he will let his state's stay home order expire, and will allow retail stores, malls, movie theaters and restaurants to reopen, but all businesses that reopen must keep the occupancy under 25 percent of its capacity.
However, other states are taking the wait-and-see approach. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, told ABC's "This Week" host George Stephanopoulos Sunday that her state is not ready and needs more robust testing, community tracing, and a plan for isolating the sick.
“We’ve got to be nimble and we have to follow the science and be really smart about how we reengage,” she said.
The White House website, whitehouse.gov, states that "phase one" of the reopening should consist of maximizing physical distance from others when out or if returning to work. Social settings of 10 or more people should be avoided and precautions should be taken for individuals who are going to work and returning home to other members of the household and especially with vulnerable family members with underlying health conditions. Minimizing non-essential travel is still in place.
The website all lists that employers should continue to encourage telework, whenever possible and feasible. The site also suggests employers return employees to work in phases, and not all at one time, and to close common areas where employees are likely to congregate and interact, and enforce strict social distancing protocols.
The number of cases for Ohio is 16,325 today, and the average number of cases for the last five days was at 442, and 362 cases in the last 24 hours. Hospitalizations from COVID-19 are also declining within the state.
With reagent and swabs becoming available for testing, he predicts that testing will start double each week throughout May.
He also announced for contact tracing, which is imperative to happen, he is getting volunteers and new employees ready to help the local board of healths throughout the state.
DeWine noted that phase one is going to be slow, careful, and he is not going to allow the spread to go in the wrong direction.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said that the decision made for the reopening took into account many experts, including doctors and business owners, listening to all the voices and remind doing nothing is dangerous as well. The plan for reopening is based on keeping the workforce safe, and customers safer.
With the hospitals not being overwhelmed in Ohio, Husted said the time was right for a continued rollback of restrictions.
Dr. Amy Acton, director, Ohio Department of Health, back after a few days off from the Governor's press conferences, said she was recentered and ready to get back to battling this disease.
Acton noted that deaths follow far behind the infection rate and that it will time a long time to truly get in-depth information from all the data.
Acton said as we enter the next phase, there will successes and setbacks, but Ohioans will get through it together. She said this is "a journey, and we are on the second phase of it."