169 confirmed cases as of today, up from 119 yesterday, reaching 28 counties, and resulting in 39 hospitalizations and one death in Lucas County. The cases range in age from one year to 91.
We continue to stress to the Administration the importance of retail store operations and the sophisticated supply chains that support them. We have emphasized to the Governor and the Lt. Governor that there are a significant number of retail distribution and e-commerce centers in Ohio that are essential links in the supply chain. All of these operations are critical during this crisis.
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has issued a blanket permit for the duration of the state of emergency in Ohio to allow trucks to operate at up to 90,000 pounds with no waiver fee. The normal waiver paperwork must be submitted to ODOT within 24 hours after the vehicle’s departure. You can access and print the waiver here.
The Governor continues to stress the necessity of businesses to practice safe social distancing and observe stringent cleaning and sanitizing processes. To that end, Governor DeWine and Health Director Amy Acton strongly recommend screening employees daily before work. You can find a screening guidance document here. They also strongly recommend a checklist of actions that businesses/employers can take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among their employees. You can find the checklist here.
We know that our many members who are open are doing all they can to ensure the safety of their customers and employees. If you would like to share photos of your employees doing the right thing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, you can send them to us at info@ohioretailmerchants.com or tag us in your social media posts and we will get them to the Governor.
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