5-14-2020 COVID19 Update: Reopening Dates Set For Child Care, Gyms, Campgrounds, More

Reopening Dates Set For Child Care, Gyms, Campgrounds, More ​

Ohio child care providers will be cleared to reopen at the end of the month, Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday.

The governor set May 31 as the day for reopening child care providers under sanitation guidelines and limited classroom sizes set by the administration.

“Our goal is very simple,” the governor said during his regular media briefing on the coronavirus. “That is to do everything we can to protect the children in child care, the workers and all the families. We want to have the safest child care system in the nation, one that nurtures the health and continued growth and development of our young people and one that protects the health and safety of our workers and teachers.”

Classroom sizes will be limited to nine for preschool and school-age children and to six for infants and toddlers, said Joni Close, president of the Sisters of Charity of Canton. Field trips won’t happen, and equipment and common areas will be cleaned repeatedly.

“Cleaning is the word of the day,” she said.

While providers reopen, the state will be studying child care to identify best practices, the governor said.

The state will use more than $60 million in federal CARES Act dollars to support child care providers, he said.

Lt. Governor Jon Husted said day camps will also be cleared to reopen May 31, with details to come.

Campgrounds will be allowed to reopen May 21, he said.

Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices will reopen May 26, although Lt. Gov. Husted urged Ohioans to use online services if possible. Delays in license renewal deadlines remain in effect.

Gyms, fitness centers, non-contact sports leagues and pools can also reopen May 26 under state guidance, he said. Horse racing can resume May 22, although spectators will be prohibited and casinos and racinos remain closed.

The Department of Health on Thursday reported the state’s cases now total 26,357, including probable cases, and deaths now total 1,534, including probable cases. A total of 4,718 Ohioans have been hospitalized during the crisis, with 1,268 in the intensive care unit.

The state saw an increase of 636 cases, 51 deaths and 100 hospitalizations in the last 24 hours, ODH said.

Gym guidelines: Information is forthcoming. Please note that some of these guidelines will not be posted online until Friday, May 15 but I will provide what is available as of around 4:40 PM on Thursday, May 14

Day camp guidelines: Information is forthcoming, it should be posted online by tomorrow per the Lt. Governor’s indications and I will provide this information to you as it becomes available.

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