As some businesses prepare to reopen in May, late Thursday night Dr. Amy Acton extended the stay-at-home order for Ohioans until at least May 29, calling the order the "Stay Safe Ohio Order."
"To avoid an imminent threat with a high probability of widespread exposure to COVID-19," the updated order reads, "all persons are to continue to stay at home..."
The order lists businesses which are to stay closed for the time being. That list includes restaurants, bars, gyms, schools, and child care services. Retail stores are able to reopen on May 12 however.
Some retail store owners have said they will reopen at the beginning of May, but DeWine said on Twitter that this was "a mistake."
To businesses that are planning to open prior to May 12: We're trying to phase openings in. We're trying to continue to buy us some time so that we don't have the curve going straight up again. We would say if you open up early, it's a mistake. We hope people will follow the law.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) April 30, 2020
Essential activities, like going to the grocery store or going to work at an essential or nonessential business, are still permitted.
The updated order comes as the number of COVID-19 related deaths in Ohio approaches 1,000 and the number of COVID-19 cases reaches 18,000, according to the Ohio Dept. of Health.
The number of COVID-19 related deaths in the U.S. reached 60,000, and the number of COVID-19 cases reached over one million earlier this week, according to the Center for Disease Control. These numbers make the U.S. the world leader in known cases and deaths related to the virus.
