What To Know About The Ohio Department Of Health's Latest Gathering Limits

Responding to the ongoing spread of COVID-19, state officials are issuing new orders to cap in-person gatherings.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced the Ohio Department of Health’s latest order on Monday afternoon (November 16), which further restricts gatherings statewide.

The new order takes effect Tuesday (November 17).

“In order to minimize the spread of COVID-19 through airborne particles passing between people in close contact, wedding receptions, funeral repasts, and other events at banquet facilities are subject to the restrictions below,” DeWine said in a Facebook post listing the new limits. “This order does not apply to religious observances; First Amendment protected speech, including petition or referendum circulators, and any activity by media; and to governmental meetings which include meetings that are required to be open to the public.”

The limit prohibits dancing and other activities in open areas, requires guests — at events like weddings, where the bride and groom can have a first dance, bouquet toss and other traditions — to remain seated, bans self-service at restaurants and limits those seated at a table to 10 people.

Those people “must be from the same household,” the order states.

It also reiterates that masks are mandatory, which DeWine issued in a statewide address last week.

“We are now seeing our third spike (of COVID-19), but this time, things are much different," DeWine tweeted November 11. "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.”

The Ohio Department of Health reported more than 298,000 total cases, more than 22,000 hospitalizations and more than 5,700 deaths as of Sunday (November 15), the latest data available.

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