Ohio Lifts Social Distancing Mandate, Now Just a Recommendation

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine—praised nationally for his early and stringent social-distancing rules during the coronavirus pandemic—is lifting the rules he imposed on the public.

“Unnecessary” travel, six feet of distancing, and other mandates are all now “strong recommendations,” he said during a Tuesday news conference in Columbus. Orders regarding social distancing in businesses and restaurants will still apply, as well as a ban on “mass gatherings,” which DeWine (R) declined to define.

“Ohioans have demonstrated in the last two months that they will use their common sense, that they will do what needs to be done,” DeWine said. “Our economic recovery is tied to the whole issue of public safety and public health; you can’t separate the two. If one is going down the other is going down, what order we issue or don’t issue is not going to help.”

Protesters gather on April 20, 2020, at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus to protest the “Stay at Home” order issued in March by Gov. Mike DeWine (R).

The order came one day after DeWine said the state would investigate restaurants and bars not following social-distancing rules for patrons and strip them of their liquor licenses.

Over the weekend county health departments received myriad complaints that eateries weren’t following the rules, which prohibit indoor seating until May 21, and which require dining parties be separated by six feet or more.

The state’s economy is 95% re-opened, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted (R) said Tuesday.