Gov. DeWine Issues Curfew, Adding To List Of COVID-19 Restrictions In Ohio

Adding onto other COVID-19 restrictions announced within the last week, Gov. Mike DeWine issued a three-week curfew beginning Thursday (November 19).

The curfew will begin at 10 p.m. and will remain in effect until 5 a.m., in hopes of mitigating the ongoing spread of COVID-19.

“We are issuing a curfew in Ohio that will start Thursday,” DeWine tweeted Tuesday afternoon (November 17). “This will run from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for 21 days…I’m also asking each Ohioan every day to do at least one thing that reduces your contact with others.”

The curfew bars retail businesses from operating during that time frame, 19News noted.

DeWine also clarified that exceptions include emergencies, such as medical attention, and commutes to or from work.

“The good news is that a vaccine is coming, but the bad news is that the situation in Ohio is deteriorating,” DeWine said.

"Each one of us will make a difference,” he continued in a tweet. “If we can cut down contacts by 20-25 percent, this will make a difference. Paired with mask-wearing, this will go a long way from stopping our hospitals from being overrun.”

The curfew announcement comes at the heels of other restrictions, including a mask mandate issued last week. He also indicated that officials would consider ordering bars, restaurants, gyms and other businesses to close, which could lead to lawsuits.

The Ohio Department of Health announced new limits on gatherings, which are now in effect.

“We are now seeing our third spike, 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 312,000 total cases as of Tuesday.

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