Governor Mike DeWine has established the initial steps of his "Responsible Restart Ohio" plan to reopen businesses shuttered in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor outlined five protocols for all businesses when they re-open, including a “no mask, no work, no service, no exception” requirement for employees and clients, and limits on capacity to no more than 50 percent of fire code restrictions. Other guidelines cover daily health assessments, maintenance of sound hygiene practices including 6-foot social distancing, cleaning and sanitizing, and reporting infections.
 
Stay-at-home orders will remain in place, including limits on gatherings, but with modifications to allow additional business operations.
 
Below is a timeline of the phased-in plan to reopen businesses:

Friday, May 1
Lifting the bar on elective surgeries to allow procedures that do not require an overnight hospital stay.

Monday, May 4
All construction, distribution and manufacturing businesses that have not been allowed to continue operation during the pandemic can reopen. General offices also will be allowed to reopen on that date.
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Tuesday, May 12
Consumer, retail and service businesses can reopen.

Ohio's Safe Business Practices for Getting Back to Work
5 Protocols for All Businesses
Responsible Restart Ohio - Consumer, Retail & Services
Responsible Restart Ohio - General Office Environments
Responsible Restart Ohio - Manufacturing, Distribution & Construction
Continued - Business Closures
 
Additional details are available on the Ohio Department of Health website:
https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/responsible-restart-ohio
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