By Deba Uwadiae
- Tells all to Wear Mask
As cases of coronavirus pandemic continue to increase in Ohio State, Governor Mike DeWine has announced one week of monitoring the activities of restaurants, bars and fitness centers to decide whether they continued to stay open or be closed.
“If the current trend continues and cases keep increasing, we will be forced to close restaurants, bars, and fitness centers. We will look at this one week from tomorrow,” said Governor Mike DeWine.
“Throughout history, each generation has faced challenges. Americans have been asked to lay down their lives so that our nation might live. Today, we all must do something far less dramatic – wear a mask so that your friends, neighbors, and family members might live”.
“I am very well aware of the burden this will place on employees and the owners. But these are places where it is difficult or impossible to maintain mask-wearing, which we know now is the chief way of slowing this virus.”
Governor DeWine reiterated that “It is essential that we also remember the existing orders that are already in place to slow the spread of the virus. In April, we issued an order to limit gatherings of more than 10 people. That limit is still in effect and applies to public events and private gatherings.”
“Although most people and businesses have properly followed COVID-19 safety guidelines issued in Ohio’s July 23, 2020, mask order, others are not following the order.”
He said “To protect frontline workers and customers, the Ohio Department of Health will reissue Ohio’s mask order and add the following provisions:
Each store will be required to post a sign outlining face-covering requirements at all public entrances to the store;
- Each store will be responsible for ensuring that customers and employees are wearing masks; and
- A new Retail Compliance Unit, comprised of agents led by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, will inspect to ensure compliance.
- A first violation will result in a written warning and a second violation will result in closure of the store for up to 24 hours.”
