COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's revised health order that limits mass gatherings in Ohio went into effect Tuesday morning.

The order prohibits dancing and self-serve buffets suspected as possible sources leading to the recent explosion of Coronavirus cases.

“Despite the health order that limited mass gatherings to 10 people that was signed in April remaining in effect, we have seen the rampant spread of the virus as a result of banquets, wedding receptions, and social gatherings following funerals,” said Governor MikeDeWine.  “We have seen great tragedy associated with such events.  It’s not the ceremonies causing the problem.  It’s the party afterward.” 

To minimize the spread of COVID-19 through airborne particles passing between people in close contact, wedding receptions, funeral repasts, and other events at banquet facilities are subject to the following restrictions:

No socializing or activities in open congregate areas and no dancing.

Guests must always be seated. Traditional wedding reception events such as first dance, toasts, tossing the bouquet and cutting the cake are permitted.

If serving food and beverages, guests must be served at their seats. No self-serve buffets and no self-serve bar areas permitted.

Masks must always be worn unless actively consuming food or beverages.

No more than 10 people should be seated at a table and those individuals must be from the same household.

This order does not apply to religious observances; First Amendment protected speech, including petition or referendum circulators, and any activity by media; and to governmental meetings which include meetings that are required to be open to the public.

DIRECTOR'S ORDER

Below is a complete transcript of the revised order to limit or prohibit mass gatherings in Ohio, with exceptions

I, Lance D. Himes, Interim Director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), pursuant to the authority granted to me in R.C. 3701.13 to "make special orders...for preventing the spread of contagious or infectious diseases" Order the following to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the State of Ohio:

1. All public and private gatherings of greater than 10 people occurring outside a single residence and the real estate on which it is located, or an apartment, condominium, or dormitory living unit are prohibited. This is in accordance with President Trump's coronavirus guidelines issued March 16, 2020.

2. Paragraph 1 does not apply to wedding ceremonies and funeral observances.

3. In order to minimize the spread of COVID-19 through airborne particles passing between people during close contact, wedding receptions, funeral repasts and other events at banquet facilities are subject to each of the following restrictions:

a) No socializing or activities in open congregate areas and no dancing;

b) Guests must be seated at all times. Traditional wedding reception events such as first dance, toasts, and cutting the cake are permitted;

c) If serving food and beverages, guests must be served at their seats. No self-serve buffets permitted and no self-serve bar areas;

d) Masks must be worn at all times unless actively consuming food or beverages; and

e) No more than 10 people seated at a table, and those individuals must be from the same household.

4. Paragraph 1 does not apply to religious observances.

5. Paragraph 1 does not apply to First Amendment protected speech, including petition or referendum circulators and any activity by the Media, which includes newspapers, television, radio, other media services, and to governmental meetings, which includes meetings that are required to be open to the public pursuant to R.C. 121.22.

6. Paragraph 1 does not apply to gatherings otherwise permitted by Orders of the Director of Health.

7. Pool tables, pinball machines, dartboards, jukeboxes, video games, arcade games, and other coin-operated machines are still permitted to be open pursuant to the guidelines set forth and references in the Director's Amended Order that Reopens Restaurants, Bars, Banquet and Catering Facilities and Services, with Exceptions, signed June 5, 2020.

8. Except as set forth herein, the Director's Third Amended Order that Reopens Restaurants, Bars, Banquet and Catering Facilities and Services to Dine-in Service, with Exceptions, signed September 23, 2020, remains in effect, and wedding receptions, funeral repasts and other events at banquet facilities are subject to its requirements.

9. This Order shall be effective at 12:01 a.m. on November 17, 2020.

Accordingly, I hereby ORDER that all public and private gatherings of greater than 10 people occurring outside a single residence and the real estate on which it is located, or an apartment, condominium, or dormitory living unit are prohibited , with exceptions. This Order shall remain in full force and effect until the State of Emergency declared in the Governor's Executive Order expires, or the Director of the Ohio Department of Health rescinds or modifies this Order. To the extent any public official enforcing this Order has questions regarding the effect of this Order, the Director of Health hereby delegates to local health departments the authority to answer questions in writing and consistent with this Order.

November 15 2020