Complete Story
06/10/2020
Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky Reopening Updates
Ohio State Press Conference Summary: 6/3 - 6/9
As Ohio's reopening strategy moves forward, Governor Mike DeWine is asking businesses that have employees who are able to work from home to continue following that process. “We’ve really encouraged every business that has had people working from home to continue to do that,” DeWine said during his press conference on June 9th. “I think it is the safest thing, and we’re going to continue to try to do that in state government.”
Governor DeWine announced that entertainment venues, including indoor sports facilities, movie theaters, museums, and playgrounds, were eligible to open on June 10th provided that they are able to follow the applicable guidelines for safety. The governor also announced that casinos, racinos, amusement parks, and water parks are eligible to reopen on June 19th.
The governor also announced an update to the order that allows properly prepared assisted living facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities to begin to allow outdoor visitation on June 8th. The lifted restrictions do not yet apply to nursing homes.
Overall in Ohio, new COVID-19 cases are trending down with an average of 397 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 495 new cases per day over the last 28 days.
Michigan State Press Conference Summary: 6/3 - 6/9
Governor Whitmer signed Executive Orders to reopen more regions and economic sectors under the MI Safe Start Plan. Starting on June 10th, Regions 6 and 8 — which include much of northern Michigan and all of the Upper Peninsula — advanced to Phase 5 of the governor’s MI Safe Start Plan. Phase 5 allows the reopening of salons, movie theaters, and gyms, subject to safety protocols and procedures designed to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Under Phase 5, indoor social gatherings and organized events of up to 50 people are permissible. Outdoor social gatherings and organized events are also allowed if people maintain six feet of distance from one another and the gathering consists of no more than 250 people. In addition, outdoor performance and sporting venues will be open with a larger capacity limit of 500, which will allow for some outdoor graduation ceremonies. Though the remaining regions, 1 through 5 and 7, will remain in Phase 4 under the above stated executive orders, the governor has said she expects the entire state will advance to Phase 5 in the coming weeks.
More than 100 small businesses around Michigan will utilize the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s MI Local Biz crowdfunding program throughout the month of June. MEDC will provide a total of $500,000 in matching grants to help the businesses as they work to recover from the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. MI Local Biz allows for a small business to utilize donation-based crowdfunding through the Michigan-based existing platform to potentially receive a 1:1 matching grant from MEDC of up to $5,000. Funds must be used by the businesses for working capital needs in order to maintain ongoing operations during and through the COVID-19 crisis.
The Michigan National Guard will continue its efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. President Trump extended federal deployment until August 21st. The Michigan National Guard has played a critical role in flattening the COVID-19 curve in Michigan by distributing Personal Protective Equipment, food and medical supplies, providing warehousing support, disinfecting public spaces, and assisting the Department of Health and Human Services with testing.
Michigan's new cases of COVID-19 continue to decline. As of Tuesday, June 9th, there were 54 new cases reported.
Kentucky State Press Conference Summary: 6/3 - 6/9
Governor Beshear said industries that currently are operating under capacity limits soon will see those restrictions eased. “All of our industries that right now have a capacity limit, like retail at 33%, restaurants and others – at the month date, where they’ve been operating for a month under that 33%, we are going to increase that capacity to 50%.” He said compliance with Healthy at Work guidelines and other requirements remain key to keeping establishments open.
He is encouraging all voters to use a new Absentee Ballot Application Portal now available online. A link to the State Board of Elections’ portal can be found at govoteky.com. He urged everyone who plans to vote in the primary elections to go to the portal and request an absentee mail-in ballot. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is June 15th.
Governor Beshear announced the launching of a new effort that aims to provide health care coverage for 100 percent of African-American people in the commonwealth. “This is just the first commitment in making up for the inequality that Dr. King said was one of the most severe: inequality in health care,” said Gov. Beshear. “We’re going to be putting dollars behind it, we’re going to have a multifaceted campaign to do it. It is time, especially during COVID-19.” He said his goal is to make sure that everybody has coverage either through Medicaid, expanded Medicaid, or the private market.
To see the state’s full reopening schedule and industry-specific guidance, including updates announced this week, visit healthyatwork.ky.gov. “Follow the rules, be healthy at home and be healthy at work,” said Gov. Beshear. “Let’s continue to make sure that we work to defeat this pandemic.”
Kentucky's new COVID-19 case numbers have seen a continuing slight uptick this past week, as 232 new cases were reported for Tuesday, June 9th. Only 69 were reported on Sunday, June 7th.
