COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Health has extended the statewide curfew three additional weeks, until Jan. 23, 2021.
The curfew first went into effect on Thursday, Nov. 19, and is aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19 by keeping Ohioans home. According to DeWine, the decision to extend the curfew again is because, "we don’t yet know what effect the holidays may have on our hospitals and health care systems, so we must continue to be cautious." Back at the beginning of the month, DeWine called this time "the most important three weeks" of the pandemic.
"Our numbers are sort of in a flux," DeWine said. "They're not going down and we have to see what happens in regards to the holidays and the aftermath. And frankly while we're glad they're not going up like that, they've plateaued at a very high level."
The curfew will go from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. Most businesses are expected to close at 10 p.m. nightly, but some services like drive through and carry out food services may remain open. "The curfew is not intended to stop anyone from getting groceries or going to the pharmacy," DeWine said. It also doesn't apply to anyone who's traveling to or from work or those with a medical emergency.