PERRYSBURG, Ohio — Ohioans have been under curfew since Nov. 19 as a way to bring COVID-19 numbers down and ease the stress on hospital systems.
After nine consecutive days with COVID-19 hospitalizations under 2,500, the state has met the threshold Gov. Mike Dewine and the Ohio Department of Health set to finally lift the curfew.
According to the order, the curfew is scheduled to be over at 12:01 p.m. today, Feb. 11. DeWine has made no indication yet that it would be extended.
This sliding scale based on steadily decreasing hospitalization numbers in Ohio has been developed to allow for the shortening of curfew hours or ending the curfew:
- Because hospitalization rates have remained below 3,500 daily hospitalizations for seven consecutive days, the curfew hours will have been changed to 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. for two weeks.
- If hospitalization rates dip below 3,000 daily hospitalizations for seven consecutive days, the curfew will be changed from midnight to 5 a.m. for two weeks.
- If hospitalization rates dip below 2,500 daily hospitalizations for seven consecutive days, the curfew will be eliminated.
This is welcome news for one restaurant at Levis Commons.
"We've seen a big reduction in the people we get to see a lot, that come in after a hard day work that come in after eating in the dining room or joining somebody else somewhere and want to enjoy a cocktail," said Jeff Dinnebeil, co-owner and chef at Benchmark.
The state is now seeing just over 1,000 new cases reported a day.
During the peak on Nov. 30, there were 13,594 new cases reported in 24 hours.
The big question is if the governor says the curfew is coming to an end, when exactly will that be?
DeWine is expected to address the curfew at his briefing Thursday afternoon.