Columbus Public Health and Franklin County Public Health have issued at Stay at Home Advisory, effective at 6 p.m. on November 20. The advisory is in response to rapid increases in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and the community positivity rate.
Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts and Franklin County Health Commissioner Joe Mazzola advise all residents of Columbus and Franklin County to stay at home to the greatest extent possible. Residents are advised to only leave home to go to work or school or for essential needs such as medical care, groceries, medicine and food pick up.
Residents also are strongly advised not to have any guests in their homes unless they are essential workers, including for the Thanksgiving holiday. Columbus and Franklin County residents also are urged to limit meetings and social events to 10 individuals both indoors and outside, and to avoid traveling in and out of the state.
The Stay at Home Advisory supplements all current orders of Governor R. Michael DeWine, the Ohio Department of Health, Franklin County, the City of Columbus, and the municipalities of Franklin County.
“We are at a critical moment in our fight against COVID-19 and we must do everything we can right now to reduce the spread in our community and save lives,” says Dr. Roberts. “We are all safest in our own homes and we are urging everyone to stay there unless they have to go out for essential activities.”
“If we all pull together as a community and take these additional precautions now, we can protect the health of those we love, preserve our healthcare system and allow us the additional time needed until a vaccine is made available,” says Joe Mazzola.
The Stay at Home Advisory will remain in place for two consecutive incubation periods of COVID-19 (28 days) or until both health departments determine a change to the guidance is appropriate.
Read the full Stay at Home Advisory