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Gov. DeWine announces major changes need to be made to prevent the spread of COVID-19

OHIO — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine held a statewide address on coronavirus this evening at 5:30 p.m.

>> Coronavirus: Ohio test positivity rate continues climb, highest since beginning of May

The address came as the state is seeing the highest test positivity rate since the beginning of May when the state began to expand its testing capacity.

During the briefing, DeWine reinstated a few orders and reviewed the current state Ohio is in as cases continue to rise:

Revised Mask Order

  • Each business will be required to post a Face Covering Requirement sign at all public entrances to the store.
  • Each store will be responsible for ensuring that customers and employees are wearing masks.
  • Our new Retail Compliance Unit, comprised of agents led by the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, will inspect to ensure compliance.

Event/Gathering Protocol

  • DeWine asks that people to not host birthday parties, sleepovers, baby showers ect.
  • If you feel that you have to be with people who don’t live in your home, wear a mask, he said.

Revised Policy for Congregate Areas

  • Open congregate areas can no longer be open.
  • Everyone must be seated and masked unless they are actively consuming food or drinks.
  • “Dancing and games prohibited,” DeWine stated.

Look-Ahead

  • “If the current trend continues and cases keep increasing, we will be forced to close restaurants, bars and fitness centers,” he said.
  • DeWine will reassess the situation a week from Thursday.

DeWine’s address was carried live on WHIO-TV, WHIO.com, the WHIO-TV Now streaming app on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and smart TVs. The address also will be carried on WHIO Radio on 1290AM only. It also will be carried on the WHIO-TV Facebook page.

Hospital officials across the state said Monday afternoon that hospitals across Ohio have the physical capacity to handle additional coronavirus patients, however, staffing has become the concern with workers at the hospitals getting the virus and keeping them off the job.

>> Coronavirus: Hospitals reaching capacity due to staffing issues statewide, chief medical officer says

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