Complete Story
07/22/2020
Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky COVID-19 Updates
Ohio State Press Conference Summary: 7/15 - 7/21
Governor DeWine announced that beginning on Thursday, July 23, at 6:00 p.m., a statewide mask mandate will go into effect for citizens living in all 88 Ohio counties.
All individuals in Ohio must wear facial coverings in public at all times when:
- At an indoor location that is not a residence
- Outdoors, but unable to maintain six-foot social distance from people who are not household members
- Waiting for, riding, driving, or operating public transportation, such as a taxi, a car service, or a private car used for ride-sharing.
The order only requires those that are 10 years old or older to where a mask. Additional information and exclusions can be found on the state’s website.
The governor also issued a travel advisory for all individuals coming into Ohio from states reporting positive COVID-19 testing rates of 15% or higher. Those traveling from one of the following states should self-quarantine for 14 days at home or in a hotel: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas.
The self-quarantine recommendation applies to those who live in Ohio and to people who are traveling into Ohio from any of these states. Ohio's positivity rate, which is an indicator of the percentage of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, has been around 6.2%. Visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov for tips on how to effectively quarantine.
Lt. Governor Husted announced that Governor DeWine has signed onto
a letter to Congressional leadership with 20 other fellow governors from across the nation, calling for reasonable limited liability protections for businesses, schools, healthcare workers, and governments as they are reopened during the COVID-19 global pandemic. The letter calls for predictable, timely, targeted liability protections to shield employers from legal risks associated with the spread of the novel coronavirus, so long as they are following the appropriate standards of care to protect their employees, customers, and students.
Lt. Governor Husted also announced that the Ohio Development Services Agency awarded $20 million in grants to 68 Ohio manufacturers to produce personal protective equipment (PPE). The Ohio PP Retooling and Reshoring grants provide up to $500,000 to small and medium-sized manufacturers to expand production or convert their facilities to start producing PPE. Businesses can learn more about other resources available through the Office of Small Business Relief and Development.
Ohio’s latest unemployment figures dropped three percentage points in the last month to 10.9%. OhioMeansJobs.com currently has over 167,000 job postings, with 94,500 (57%) paying between $30,000 - $79,000. Approximately 110,000 jobs require less than a bachelor’s degree, while 42,000 require either a bachelors or associate degree.
Ohio recorded a slight increase in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 1,347 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 1,304 new cases per day over the previous 7 days.
Michigan State Press Conference Summary: 7/15 - 7/21
Michigan Small Business Restart Program
Small businesses can now apply for grants of up to $20,000 through the Michigan Small Business Restart Program. The program will provide $100 million in economic assistance to Michigan’s small businesses and nonprofits and in turn, help support workers and their families facing economic uncertainty during the outbreak. Information on how to apply, as well as eligibility criteria and program guidelines are available at michiganbusiness.org/restart.
The funding will be distributed across 15 local or nonprofit economic development organizations (EDOs) covering all 83 counties in the state for grants up to $20,000 to support certain small businesses and nonprofits that have realized a significant financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 virus.
Additionally, at least 30 percent of the funds awarded under the program must be provided to women-owned, minority-owned or veteran-owned eligible businesses.
The application period will be live through Wednesday, August 5.
MIOSHA Workplace Safety Resources
Check out Michigan.gov/COVIDWorkplaceSafety – the one-stop-shop for employer, employee workplace safety resources including posters, videos, fact sheets and industry specific guidelines.
This week, MIOSHA added downloadable signs for businesses to make mask requirements clear.
Department of Civil Rights Cautions Businesses to Comply with Federal and State Disability Laws When Enforcing Face Covering Requirement
On Saturday, July 18, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights cautioned Michigan businesses and other public accommodations to make sure they follow state and federal law when enforcing rules on wearing a mask or face covering in their facilities.
Executive Order No. 2020-153 mandates businesses:
- Post notice of the requirement to wear a face covering where all can see
- Enforce this face covering requirement
- Provide for exceptions, including the exception for those who cannot medically tolerate wearing one
- May not assume that an unmasked customer cannot medically tolerate a face covering, though they may accept a customer’s verbal representation to that effect
With or without a mandate, a business must make choices about how to implement its ‘no mask, no service’ policy. It must enforce the policy for everyone, while also remaining in compliance with the ADA and PWDCRA. It can do so by doing one of three things:
- Provide anyone who does not wear a face covering, for whatever reason, an alternative to entering without a face covering (examples might include having staff shop for them, providing carryout service, etc.)
- Engage in a dialogue with each individual who is not wearing a face covering to determine if, due to a disability, the business can provide a reasonable accommodation/modification of the policy for this individual (this might include allowing a face shield, or any of the examples above)
- Allow entry to anyone who indicates they cannot medically tolerate a face covering, while excluding others whose reasons for not wearing one are not covered in the EO or are not covered under the ADA or PWDCRA.
It is important to remember that under the ADA, if a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability is available, the business must provide one. If a business or public space offers a reasonable accommodation and the individual rejects it, or if an accommodation is not possible, the business may deny entry to that individual.
Michigan saw another increase in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 631 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 526 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers have fluctuated over the course of the week.
Kentucky State Press Conference Summary: 7/15 - 7/21
Governor Beshear announced that the Cabinet for Health and Family Services has issued a new order that pulls back on guidance covering social, non-commercial mass gatherings. The new order returns the guidance to allow only for such gatherings of 10 or fewer people. The guidance, which does not apply to weddings, restaurants, retail or other public venues, went into effect Monday, July 20. Much of the other guidance on mass gatherings remains intact, including mandates on barring sick people, requiring face coverings and social distance, and a ban on sharing food and drinks. People hosting such gatherings also are encouraged to host the events outdoors when possible, sanitize high-touch surfaces and follow other Healthy at Home suggestions.
Responding to some reports that some seeking coronavirus testing still are being asked to provide a doctor’s order, administration officials reiterated that Governor Beshear signed an executive order last week removing any such requirement to receive a COVID-19 test.
Governor Beshear announced that contractor Ernst & Young (EY) has processed 10,365 outstanding unemployment claims as of July 15. EY increased work hours from eight to 10 hours per day and also began working on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Going forward, EY expects to resolve 4,000 claims per day.
On Monday, July 20, Governor Beshear announced a new travel advisory and a pullback on the guidance for mass gatherings. The new travel advisory recommends a 14-day self-quarantine for travelers who went to any of eight states – Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, South Carolina and Texas – that are reporting a positive coronavirus testing rate equal to or greater than 15%.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted the state’s Healthy at School guidelines, which promote best practices including social distancing, cloth face coverings, contact tracing, sanitation and health screenings. She also touted expanded flexibility the state is extending to school district officials so they can make decisions about what is best for their students, teachers and school staffers. Among the new provisions being allowed for the coming school year are unlimited non-traditional instruction (NTI) days, removing “daily average attendance” requirements for funding, an expanded care program and unlimited COVID-19-related emergency days for teachers and staff in quarantine.
Kentucky saw another weekly increase in new COVID-19 cases, with an average of 548 new cases per day over the last 7 days compared to an average of 386 new cases per day over the previous 7 days. Day-to-day numbers continue to fluctuate.
