US: Authorities in Ohio extend COVID-19-related stay-at-home order through Jan. 30 /update 29

Officials in Ohio, US, extend the coronavirus disease-related 2200-0500 stay-at-home order until Jan. 30. Other restrictions remain.

Event

Authorities in Ohio have extended the state's nightly 2200-0500 stay-at-home order until Jan. 30; the measure was due to expire Jan. 23 and is part of ongoing efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The directive requires residents to remain at home during the stipulated hours unless working at their normal employment, responding to an emergency, attending to medical needs, or engaging in essential activities, such as purchasing basic goods.

Officials are also maintaining the state's travel advisory list and county risk list, travelers from which are urged to self-quarantine upon arrival in Ohio. As of the latest amendments Jan. 20, the full list includes:

Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, South Dakota, Utah, and Virginia.

Health officials recommend that all persons arriving from US states and territories reporting positive COVID-19 testing rates of 15 percent or higher self-quarantine for two weeks. Ohio's travel advisory list is updated weekly.

Other statewide restrictions that remain in place include:

All individuals over the age of 10, except those with medical conditions, must wear facemasks while in indoor public locations, in outdoor settings where social distancing is not possible, and while using public transportation, taxis, or app-based, ride-hailing services.
The sale of alcohol after 2200 nightly remains prohibited.
Bars and restaurants may operate at full capacity provided they comply with certain state directives aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Catering and banquet facilities may host no more than 300 people at a time.
Museums, zoos, movie theaters, and other indoor entertainment facilities are allowed to open. Office-based businesses, retail stores, personal care businesses, and gyms and fitness centers may also operate.

Ohio also continues to employ its Health Advisory System to monitor COVID-19 activity and issue additional guidelines in the most affected counties. Under the system, each county is assigned one of four color-coded public emergency levels based on local disease activity, with Level 1 (yellow) representing the lowest degree of infection risk and Level 4 (purple) the highest. Several indicators, including the number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospital bed availability, are used to assign counties to the appropriate level.

At Level 4 (purple), officials urge residents to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel; Hamilton county is still at Level 4 as of Jan. 23. At Level 3 (red), residents are to limit face-to-face interactions and unnecessary travel and avoid gatherings of any size. As of Jan. 23, there are 83 counties at Level 3, including several of the most populated ones in the state - Franklin, Cuyahoga, Lucas, and Butler. At Level 2 (orange), residents should avoid anyone considered high-risk, decrease in-person interactions, and maintain social distancing. As of Jan. 23, the remaining four counties remain at Level 2: Gallia, Hocking, Monroe, and Vinton. No county is at Level 1 (yellow), under which residents should maintain social distancing and avoid travel to high-risk areas.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice, depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Abide by the health and safety measures of the authorities. Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.