The “Wall of Fire” presented by the Ohio Pyro Arts Guild during the 2018 Chillicothe Fireworks display in the Yoctangee Park Annex.
Community fireworks displays received the go ahead as announced by Lt. Gov. Jon Husted during the State’s news conference on COVID-19.
However, large gatherings remain prohibited. Husted encouraged any community that plans on holding a fireworks event to do so safely.
Spectators are encouraged to find ways to celebrate the Fourth of July in small groups such as watching displays from their porches, backyards or cars.
Communities such as Ashville and Chillicothe announced the cancellation of their annual displays as well as Red, White & Boom in Columbus which regularly draws crowds in excess of 500,000.
Click on the photo to see the Litter Media Facebook Album from the 2018 Chillicothe Fireworks display.
Litter Media was granted special access at ground zero of the 2018 Chillicothe Fireworks display. The display was choreographed and conducted by the Ohio Pyro Art Guild. A collaboration of six cameras were used to captured the display which included the amazing “Wall of Fire” and a spectacular grand finale. Watch the entire show below.
Ohioans will be able to get back to the gym, campgrounds, the BMV soon and child care centers can re-open May 31st.
Governor Mike DeWine said of opening the child care centers “We are taking a cautious approach” with the May 31st date. Monday DeWine noted concerns of re-opening child care centers to “make sure we get this right”.
“Our goal is very simple” said DeWine “we’re going to do everything we can do to protect the children in child care, the workers and all the families. We wanna have the safest child care system in the nation… one that nurtures the health and continued growth and the development of our young people and one that protects the health and safety of our child care workers and teachers.”
The Governor stressed child care will look much different moving forward as long as COVID-19 is around. DeWine added the last few weeks an advisory group headed by Joni Close, President of Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton to set the requirements the centers will need to follow to re-open.
“There will be changes at child care centers and for families” said Close. “Starting right the the children are dropped off, you’ll likely see your child care professional with a mask on. The caretakers will maybe ask the parents to don the mask as well.”
Close said daily temperature taking will be routine and additional guidelines will need to be followed.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced additional dates for other sectors re-opening, including Ohio’s Bureau of Motor Vehicle locations, campgrounds, swimming pools, gyms and fitness centers, dance studios and horse racing. Regarding horse racing, Husted was quick to point out that does not include Ohio’s Casinos and Racinos, but the agricultural aspect of racing. “Guidance will be available (on www.coronavirus.ohio.gov) later today.” Husted also explained swimming does not include amusement parks or water parks, adding there’s an advisory panel working on guidelines for those facilities to be released at a later date.
Husted also addressed limited, non-contact sports leagues “like golf, softball, baseball, tennis, paddle sports of the like, this can also re-open, be re-established on May the 26th.” As for other sports, the Lt. Gov. said “We have work groups that are working on the higher contact sports as it relates to lacrosse, hockey, field hockey, soccer, basketball and others” noting that they present their own challenges.
This Friday (May 15th), restaurants will be permitted to serve outside dining to customers and hair salons, barbershops, massage therapy and tattoo parlors can re-open.
OHIO CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS: Statewide as of 2pm ET Thursday, Ohio has 26,357 total COVID-19 cases with 4,718 hospitalizations and 1,534 deaths due to the virus.
May 22nd – Horse Racing (in the agricultural aspect) DOES NOT include Casinos and Racinos
May 26th – Ohio BMV’s, Swimming Pools and Limited Non-Contact Sports and Leagues; Gyms, Fitness Centers, Recreational Centers, Dance Studios (DOES NOTinclude amusement parks and water parks. Guidelines will be available by close of business May 15th at www.coronavirus.ohio.gov)
The much needed personal protective equipment (PPE) is on the way according to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
During his daily news conference Wednesday, DeWine said the state has shipped 4.1 million pieces of PPE throughout the Buckeye State.
Local Emergency Management Agencies have the task of distributing the product, which reportedly includes 500,000 N95 masks.
The Governor also announced $16 million in grant funding has been made available to local authorities for use by law enforcement, courts and probation offices in the fight against coronavirus for the purpose of purchasing cleaning supplies, covering overtime hours and medical needs for inmates.
DeWine also addressed graduation ceremonies and celebrations. He’s asked the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Health to work together to advise the state’s 612 school districts with planning their commencement ceremonies. Districts are urged to work with their local health departments to gain approval of their plans for graduations.
DeWine then segued into graduation parties saying it’s a “time to graduate, NOT the time to have a graduation party.” While sympathizing with those associated with the Class of 2020, he then directed parents to www.coronavirus.ohio.gov for guidance for such celebrations. “Our guidelines are no more than 10 people.”
Face covering were very much a topic of conversation following the Governor’s recommendation regarding masks last Monday. Many were confused after face coverings were first mandated for all employees and customers inside of businesses.
After backing down on the mandate Tuesday, more clarification was addressed by Lt. Gov. Jon Husted Wednesday. “For Ohioans, when you are a customer in an Ohio business, you should wear a face covering.” Said Husted. “But you are not required to wear a face covering.” Husted explained the idea was not to protect the wearers, but to protect the public from an asymptomatic wearer labeling it as a courtesy to one another.
Husted did outline there are a few exceptions for which the requirement is waived, such as:
Workers prohibited by law or regulation from wearing a facial covering on the job
Wearing a face covering is against documented industry best practices
When it’s not advisable for health purposes
When a face covering is in violation of a company’s safety policies
When an employee is sitting alone in an enclosed work space
When it’s not practical, i.e. in conditions of extreme heat
Should a business or employee believe they qualify for an exception, they have to be ready to provide written justification upon request.
As of 2pmET Wednesday, statewide total cases number 17,303 with 3,421 hospitalizations and 937 total deaths.
Cases by county in the Scioto Valley Region: Fairfield, 129; Fayette, 15; Highland, 11; Hocking, 16; Jackson, 4; Pickaway, 1,722; Pike, 3; Ross, 37; Scioto, 8 and Vinton, 5.
