Ohio 'stay at home' order limits business operations to slow spread of COVID-19

Ohioans are under an order from the Ohio Department of Health to stay at home unless conducting or participating in essential activities, essential governmental functions, or essential businesses and operations. The order, signed by Dr. Amy Acton, the department's health director, went into effect at 11:59 p.m. on March 23. Local departments of health and law enforcement are enforcing the order, which has a number of key directives for businesses operating in the state.

Essential businesses and operations

All businesses and operations in Ohio except "essential businesses and operations" are required to cease all activities in the state except "minimum basic operations," which means:

• The minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business's inventory, preserve the condition of the physical space and equipment, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, or handle related functions; and
• The minimum necessary activities to facilitate employees being able to continue to work remotely.

Essential businesses and operations are encouraged to stay open, provided they comply with social distancing requirements outlined in the order. The order's definition of "essential businesses and operations" incorporates the list identified in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19 Response.