Gov. Mike DeWine warned of the potential to close bars, gyms and other businesses in an address on Wednesday (November 11) as Ohio faces its third wave of COVID-19.
If that happens, another wave of lawsuits against the governor could come with it.
“We are now seeing our third spike, but this time, things are much different," DeWine tweeted Wednesday (November 11), calling this spike “more intense, widespread, and dangerous.” "We had been warned that when it got colder and drier, and when people were indoors more, the virus would rise up again. And it certainly has.”
During his address Wednesday, DeWine announced a mask mandate. He also warned of the potential for more restrictions, including closing restaurants, fitness centers and other establishments again.
Maurice Thompson told cleveland.com that he would tell gym owners to operate legally even if DeWine orders them to close their facilities. Thompson is one lawyer who’s been involved in efforts to combat DeWine’s restrictions during the pandemic, according to cleveland.com. At least 25 lawsuits were filed in response to DeWine’s COVID-19 orders.
The Ohio Restaurant Association said any more restrictions would be “devastating,” WKYC reported Thursday (November 12).
“Like everyone, we are concerned about the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and are committed to controlling the rising numbers,” President and CEO John Barker said. “We are also deeply concerned for the 58% of Ohio restaurants that have indicated they may close their doors permanently if they continue operating at current capacity. Another shutdown of indoor dining would significantly increase the number of restaurants that would be forced to close their doors.”
DeWine hasn’t made a decision whether to order restaurants and other establishments to close, and said he isn’t “picking on” them.
During his address this week, he acknowledged that he knew about the “burden” on the affected industries, but said “these are place where it is difficult or impossible to maintain mask-wearing, which we know now is the chief way of slowing this virus.”
He expects to make that call on November 19, according to WKYC.
If he opts to order businesses to close, DeWine expected more lawsuits.
“I’m sure that lawsuits will continue…What I can assure you is that any order we issue is done with great consultation with our legal team. We have some very good lawyers,” he said. “Sometimes judges disagree with what we do. We understand that, we respect that. The process is we can appeal or don’t, and we make those decisions based on what best counsel advice is and what we think is in the best interest of the people of the State of Ohio.”
“We have to analyze it from a logical approach,” DeWine added. “And we haven’t said we’re going to definitely do this. But what I wanted to do, I owed it to people in this state, the people who run bars, the people who run restaurants, [to say] we’re looking at this, and we’re concerned about it.”
The Ohio Department of Health reported more than 274,400 total cases and more than 5,600 total deaths as of Thursday, the latest data available.
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