By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
A week from now, “non-essential” businesses will start reopening in Ohio.
Ideally, widespread testing would have shown a leveling off of COVID-19 cases prior to the stay-at-home order being lifted.
But since the testing availability in Ohio has been far short of ideal, the state is suggesting a “soft opening” for May 1 and beyond.
“This isn’t some magic date, and the virus disappears and we get to go back to life as it was before,” said Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Batey.
Even when the stay-at-home order is lifted, public health officials will still be suggesting that people only go out when necessary.
“Each family is going to have to make a decision for themselves on what the risk is in going out,” Batey said.
People will still be discouraged from congregating in small or large groups.
“That’s not going to be a great idea,” Batey said.
The loosening of orders should be phased in, Batey said in a new videotape explaining the Wood County Health Department’s recommendations. Local residents have done well at minimizing the risks, but efforts need to continue, he said.
“Help us protect the health care system from getting overwhelmed,” he said.
Gov. Mike DeWine has stressed that businesses opening up does not mean business as usual. The state is still recommending social distancing of six feet or more, wearing of masks and gloves, placing barriers where appropriate, frequent sanitizing of surfaces, and using hand sanitizer. The state is also suggesting staggered arrivals for employees, staggered lunches, checking temperatures of employees, and working from home if possible.
“We’re looking to businesses to look toward how can you protect your customers and your employees,” Batey said.
Businesses will be asked to change their normal practices to allow for social distancing and other precautions.
“How can you structure your business so people can be safe?” Batey suggested every business ask itself.
At least for a while, people would be wise to wear masks outside their homes, since people who are asymptomatic can spread COVID-19 by just talking.
“That protects others from you and you from others,” Batey said.
These steps are likely to be recommended through the end of 2020 and into 2021, he added.
The Wood County Health Department is waiting for further guidance from DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health on how the “soft opening” will go starting May 1.
“There are some people really eager to get out and do things. Others are going to be really anxious,” said Alex Aspacher, community outreach coordinator with the Wood County Health Department.
More testing availability is trickling out in Ohio, and DeWine announced earlier this week that he had appointed former governors Bob Taft and Dick Celeste as “testing czars” for the state.
“What that’s going to look like for Wood County, we don’t know,” Aspacher said.
The Wood County Health Department did recently receive 150 test kits from ODH. Most of those were used at local long-term care facilities because of the risk to those populations, Aspacher said.
“We have some, but I don’t think anybody would say it’s enough,” he said.
The county health department is partnering with UTMC to allow local first responders and their families to be tested, he said.
Testing in most places in Ohio still requires the person to be showing symptoms and have a referral from a physician.
“Everything comes down to testing right now,” Aspacher said. “The ideal would be to test people early and often. But we have to be judicious right now because we have a limited number. We have to make those kinds of decisions. Hopefully that changes in the future. As we try to open things up, that’s really important.”
