03/12/2020

Governor DeWine's Order on Mass Gatherings

Mass gatherings are prohibited in the state of Ohio. Mass gatherings are defined as any event or convening that brings together one hundred (100) or more persons in a single room or single space at the same time, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, theater, or any other confined indoor or outdoor space. This would also include parades, fairs and festivals.

For the purpose of clarity, a mass gathering does not include normal operations at airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and centers, or other spaces where 100 or more persons may be in transit. It also does not include typical office environments, schools, restaurants, factories, or retail or grocery stores where large numbers of people are present, but it is unusual for them to be within mm's length of one another.

A mass gathering also does not include athletic events that exclude spectators. Athletic and other events do not need to be cancelled or postponed if spectators and other attendees are excluded.

This order does not apply to and/or excludes immediate family members of participants in the athletic or other event, as well as anyone necessary for the event to take place.

This order does not apply to and/or excludes members of the media. 

This order does not apply to and/or excludes religious gatherings, gatherings for the purpose of the expression of First Amendment protected speech, weddings and funerals.

This prder shall take effect immediately and remain in full force and effect until the state of emergency declared by the governor no longer exists, or the director of the Ohio Department of Health rescinds or modifies this order.

To the extent any public official enforcing this order has questions regarding the definition of mass gathering under this Order, the Director of Health hereby delegates to local health departments the authority to answer questions in writing and consistent with this order.

Regardless of whether an event or gathering falls within the definition of mass gathering, all persons are urged to maintain social distancing (approximately six feet [2 meters] away from other people) whenever possible and to continue to wash hands, utilize hand sanitizer and practice proper respiratory etiquette (coughing into elbow, etc.).

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death, is caused by the SARS-Co V- 2 virus, which is a new strain of coronavirus that had not been previously identified in humans and can easily spread from person to person. The virus is spread between individuals who are in close contact with each other (within about six feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It may be possible that individuals can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes.

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists over 110 countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19. The World Health Organization reports over 118,000 diagnosed cases worldwide with 4,200 deaths repmied worldwide. The CDC has announced 1,215 confirmed and presumptive positive cases, with 36 deaths repmied from the disease in the United States.

On Jan. 23, 2020, the Ohio Depaiiment of Health issued a Director's Journal Entry making COVID-19 a Class A reportable disease in Ohio.

On Jan. 28, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health hosted the first statewide call with local health departments and healthcare providers regarding COVID-19.

On Jan. 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern.

On Jan. 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretaiy, Alex M. Azar II, declared a public health emergency for the United States to aid the nation's healthcare community in responding to COVID-19.

On Feb. 1, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health issued a statewide Health Ale1i Network to provide local health departments and healthcare providers with updated guidance for COVID-19 and revised Person Under Investigation (PUI) criteria.

On Feb. 3, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health trained over 140 personnel to staff a call center for COVID-19, in the event it was needed.

On Feb. 5, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health began updating and notifying the media of the number of PUis in Ohio eve1y Tuesday and Thursday.

On Feb. 6, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health updated all agency assistant directors and chiefs of staff on COVID-19 preparedness and status during the Governor's cabinet meeting.

On Feb. 7, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency met to conduct advance planning for COVID-19.

On Feb. 13, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health conducted a Pandemic Tabletop Exercise with state agencies to review responsive actions should there be a pandemic in Ohio.

On Feb. 14, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health held a conference call with health professionals across the state. The purpose of the call was to inform and engage the healthcare community in Ohio. Presentations were provided by the Department of Health, Hamilton County Public Health and the Ohio State University.

On Feb. 27, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency briefed the directors of state agencies during the governor's cabinet meeting regarding preparedness and the potential activation of the Emergency Operations Center.

On Feb. 28, 2020, the "Governor DeWine, Health Director Update COVID-19 Prevention and Preparedness Plan" was sent to a broad range of associations representing healthcare, dental, long-term care, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, business, public transit, faith-based organizations, non-profit organizations and local governments.

On March 2, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health activated a Joint Information Center to coordinate COVID-19 communications.

On March 5, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health hosted the Governor's Summit on COVID-19 Preparedness, a meeting with the Governor, cabinet agency directors, local health department commissioners, and their staff.

On March 6, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health opened a call center to answer questions from the public regarding COVID-19.

On March 9, 2020, testing by the Department of Health confirmed that three (3) patients were positive for COVID-19 in the State of Ohio. This confirms the presence of a potentially dangerous condition which may affect the health, safety and welfare of citizens of Ohio.

On March 9, 2020, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency activated the Emergency Operations Center.

On March 9, 2020, the governor declared a state of emergency in Executive Order 2020-0lD.

On March 11, 2020, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

On March 11, 2020, testing by the Ohio Department of Health confirmed that one (1) more patient was positive for COVID-19 in the state of Ohio.

On March 11, 2020, the Ohio Departments of Health and Veterans Services issued a Joint Directors' Order to limit access to Ohio nursing homes and similar facilities.

Multiple areas of the United States are experiencing "community spread" of the virus that causes COVID- 19. Community spread, defined as the transmission of an illness for which the source is unknown, means that isolation of known areas of infection is no longer enough to control spread.
The CDC reports that people are most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest) however some spread might be possible before people show symptoms although that is not the main way the virus spreads.

Mass gatherings (100 or more persons) increase the risk of community transmission of the virus COVID-19.

Thus, in summation:

To avoid an imminent threat with a high probability of widespread exposure to COVID-19 with a significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people in the general population, including the elderly and people with weakened immune systems and chronic medical conditions, Director Acton hereby orders that mass gatherings are prohibited in the state of Ohio. Mass gatherings are defined as any event or convening that brings together one hundred (100) or more persons in a single room or single space at the same time, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, theater or any other confined indoor or outdoor space. This would also include parades, fairs and festivals. For the purpose of clarity, a mass gathering does not include normal operations at airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and centers, or other spaces where 100 or more persons may be in transit. It also does not include typical office environments, schools, restaurants, factories, or retail or grocery stores where large numbers of people are present, but it is unusual for them to be within mm's length of one another. A mass gathering also does not include athletic events that exclude spectators. Athletic and other events do not need to be cancelled or postponed if spectators and other attendees are excluded. This order does not apply to and/or excludes immediate family members of participants in the athletic or other event, as well as anyone necessary for the event to take place. This Order does not apply to and/or excludes members of the media. This order does not apply to and/or excludes religious gatherings, gatherings for the purpose of the expression of First Amendment protected speech, weddings and funerals.

This order shall take effect immediately and remain in full force and effect until the State of Emergency declared by the governor no longer exists, or the director of the Ohio Department of Health rescinds or modifies this order. To the extent any public official enforcing this order has questions regarding the definition of mass gathering under this order, the director of Health hereby delegates to local health departments the authority to answer questions in writing and consistent with this order.

Regardless of whether an event or gathering falls within the definition of mass gathering, all persons are urged to maintain social distancing ( approximately six feet away from other people) whenever possible and to continue to wash hands, utilize hand sanitizer and practice proper respiratory etiquette ( coughing into elbow, etc.)

Please select this link to read the order as it was distributed to the media and parties of interest.