April 5, 2021, Governor Mike DeWine announced that the state of Ohio is issuing a new, streamlined health order that encompasses its guidance on mass gatherings and other COVID-19 restrictions. He said the new order returns to “basics.”
In issuing this new order, DeWine also rescinded a number of orders which apply to parks and recreation agencies in Ohio including orders regulating:
- Swimming pools;
- Youth sports;
- Indoor fitness facilities;
- Festivals; and
- Youth camps
Please click here to read the new order.
Under Ohio’s previous mass gatherings ban, people were prohibited from holding “all public and private gatherings of greater than 10 people” outside of their home or place of residence. Today’s action means the blanket mass gatherings ban will go away; instead, the state will ask that people keep their own groups below 10 people. At the same time, people still need to keep distance from other groups, remain seated when eating or drinking and wear face masks at all other times.
The new order reads: “Individuals must avoid gathering in groups and attempt at all times to maintain social distancing. When gathered together, individuals should be in a group of no more than 10 individuals that is separated from other groups by at least six feet.” Indoor events will remain limited at 25 percent capacity, because of the greater risk of spreading disease, while there are no capacity limits for outdoor events, although venues will need to follow the physical distancing requirements.
DeWine emphasized that the statewide mask mandate remains unchanged.
As we have stressed since the beginning of the pandemic, your best source for guidance remains your local health department.
For a complete list of the orders that were rescinded today, please click here: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/publicorders/directors-order-rescinding-various-orders.pdf
We will continue to keep you updated as the situation changes.