11-17-2020 8:34pm

Gov. DeWine Announces 21-Day Curfew

Rick Amburgey Neighbor

Governor DeWine

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that he wants people in Ohio to be at home during the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. for the next three weeks. DeWine is not calling this a shut down, but he has called it a slow down. He does not want to shut down the state again as he did in March and April. DeWine said he had talked to people who would be greatly impacted by another closure. If this three-week curfew does not slow the spread of COVID-19, a stay-at-home order might be viewed as a necessity.

During the curfew, retail businesses will close at 10 p.m., but the order will not apply to groceries and pharmacies. While people will not be permitted to dine in restaurants after 10 p.m., restaurants will be permitted to offer drive-thru and carryout options. Other exceptions will include people who have to go to work. People who have medical emergencies will still be able to go to the hospital.

This announcement comes less than a week after DeWine mentioned that restaurants, bars and fitness centers might be closed if the number of COVID-19 cases don't decrease. In the past week, cases in Ohio have increased and even topped 8,000 cases in a 24 hour period.

Earlier in the week, DeWine said a revised health order said people are not permitted to dance in Ohio. Self-serve buffet tables and self-serve drink stations are also not permitted. People are required to stay at their seat and be served. The order does permit traditional things at wedding such as the couple's first dance, cutting the cake or tossing the boquet.