Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced an order Sunday for all bars and restaurants in the state to shut down inside service to promote social distancing.
The order, which will go into effect at 9 p.m. on Sunday, will be in place until further notice, DeWine said during a press conference. Businesses may stay open for carry-out and delivery orders only, which will help to not overwhelm grocery stores, DeWine said.
The order was the latest action taken by the state to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. Currently, there are 37 confirmed cases in Ohio.
“I'm aware that this will impact many, many good workers. I can't tell you how sorry I am, but we will work to mitigate the suffering. It is our goal for everyone to get through this,” DeWine said in a Twitter thread. “Every day we delay, more people will die.”
DeWine also announced an order that will change Ohio unemployment law to assist workers directly affected by coronavirus.
Workers quarantined by their employer or a healthcare provider will now be considered unemployed, allowing them to receive unemployment benefits from the state.
The order will also waive the current one-week waiting period for unemployment benefits.
