Ohio To Reopen May 1st; COVID-19 Update

***UPDATE: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections reports Chillicothe Correctional Institute has one inmate testing positive for COVID-19 and one in isolation. SEE ODRC DASHBOARD

“The world we are going to see is a different world” Governor Mike DeWine said during his Thursday afternoon news conference. “… and the world in the workplace is going to be different.”

DeWine said Ohio will begin reopening for business once the stay-at-home order is lifted May 1st. DeWine says officials are working on a plan which he will detail in the coming days towards the expiration of the order. Exactly which businesses will be reopened is yet to be determined.

Businesses that have remained open during the stay-at-home order have been in a type of trial run for how businesses will operate. DeWine said he’s talked with Ohio’s hospital leaders to report with the types of services the can resume doing and maintain safety. One of the challenges he says is “businesses putting into place” the safe guards being used by those essential businesses practiced during the order.

The Ohio Department of Health continues to advise safe distancing, wearing masks and

DeWine strongly suggested Ohioans to make wearing a mask an every day practice when in public. “It’s the courteous thing to do, it’s the safest thing to do, is to wear a mask. This is going to be the thing we do until we’re done with the virus.”

The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases has risen to 8,239 in Ohio with 2,331 hospitalizations and 389 total deaths.

As of 2pm Thursday, Pickaway County continued to lead our region with cases (196). Fairfield county was second (96). Ross County Health District reported (25) and Fayette County (12).

Ohio’s prison system has been a concern during the pandemic. Pickaway County Correctional Institute has 152 inmates in isolation with 132 having tested positive and three deaths. Marion Correctional has 92 inmates in isolation and tested positive.

As for the two prisons in Ross County, Chillicothe Correctional Institution has just one inmate in isolation and Ross Correctional has none impacted. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections COVID-19 report was updated Thursday afternoon showing CCI with one inmate testing positive. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE UPDATED ODRC DASHBOARD