COVID-19: Week In Review For Businesses (3/30/20 – 4/3/20)

Last week in Kentucky and Ohio we saw Governor Beshear and Governor DeWine take additional steps to limit business operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ohio

On April 2nd, Governor DeWine extended Ohio’s Stay at Home order to May 1st and made multiple changes to the Order:

• Public facing businesses must determine and enforce a maximum number of customers allowed in a store at a time. The order also requires these businesses to ensure that anyone waiting in line is maintaining proper social distancing.
• Clarifies that people may travel in and out of the state for work and or to get necessary supplies, but if they come into the State of Ohio with the intent to remain permanently the order requests that they self-quarantine for 14 days.
• Local health departments are responsible for interpreting and enforcing the Stay at Home Order so the order creates a dispute resolution if two local health departments reach conflicting decisions as to whether a business is in compliance.
• Clarifies and fleshes out the enforcement of the Order and penalties for failure to comply which is a second degree misdemeanor which may result in a fine of not more than $750 or 90 days in jail (or both).

The new Order goes into effect Midnight on Monday, April 6th.

Kentucky

The big news in Kentucky was Governor Beshear’s travel ban prohibiting travel in and of Kentucky unless traveling for one of the stated exceptions:

• When required for work;
• To obtain groceries, medicine, or other necessary supplies;
• To seek or obtain care by a licensed healthcare professional provider;
• To provide care for the elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons; or
• When required by court order.

While the order does not address traveling through Kentucky en route to another state, Governor Beshear publicly stated that the travel ban is not meant to prohibit people traveling through Kentucky.

Governor DeWine and Governor Beshear continue to be among the most aggressive governors in the country in addressing COVID-19. As the COVID-19 pandemic peaks in the coming weeks we expect to see additional restrictions on businesses and increased enforcement.

The Graydon COVID-19 Task Force will continue to monitor COVID-19 orders and guidance so stay safe and know that Graydon is here to help you navigate the Coronavirus crisis. We can help with general advice, policies, forms or whatever your business needs. Our goal is to help you sleep a little better at night.