Complete Story
06/03/2020
Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky Reopening Updates
Ohio State Press Conference Summary: 5/27 - 6/2
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is deferring Ohio employers' premium installments for the months of June, July, and August. Businesses will have the option to defer the monthly premium payments with no financial penalties. This is the second payment deferral BWC has given to employers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The deferral is designed to help employers focus financial resources on re-opening their businesses under the Responsible RestartOhio Plan.
Lt. Governor Husted announced the creation of three programs to help small and medium-sized businesses in Ohio during the COVID-19 pandemic. The programs will be administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency:
- Ohio PPE Retooling and Reshoring Grant Program
- Ohio Minority Micro-Enterprise Grant Program
- Appalachian Region Loan Program
Ohio small businesses can learn more about these and other resources available through the Office of Small Business Relief and Development at Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov/BusinessHelp.
Governor DeWine announced that the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy has clarified rules that allow pharmacists to order and administer tests for COVID-19. To help Ohioans find testing locations, a map has been added to www.coronavirus.ohio.gov that lists COVID-19 testing centers in Ohio.
The governor also announced that Ohio has modified testing priority groups in light of changes in testing availability and evolving knowledge of COVID-19 and its impact on Ohioans. Testing must be first available to individuals described in Priority Groups 1, 2 and 3, but Ohio is expanding to allow partners and communities to test Ohioans in Priority Group 4 which includes testing “individuals in the community to decrease community spread, including individuals with symptoms who do not meet any of the above categories.”
Governor DeWine announced a plan to lift restrictions on visitation at assisted living homes in Ohio. Beginning June 8th, properly prepared assisted living facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities can begin to allow outdoor visitation. The lifted restrictions do not yet apply to nursing homes.
Michigan State Press Conference Summary: 5/27 - 6/2
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-110, rescinding her Safer at Home order and moving the entire state to phase four of the MI Safe Start Plan. Whitmer’s order will allow retailers to reopen on June 4th and restaurants to reopen on June 8th, with capacity limits. Day camps for children will also be permitted to open on June 8th. Effective immediately, groups of 100 or less will be allowed to gather outdoors with social distancing. Office work that is not capable of being performed remotely can resume. And in-home services, including housecleaning services, can resume operations.
Subject to local regulation, gyms and fitness centers may conduct outdoor classes, practices, training sessions, or games, provided that coaches, spectators, and participants maintain six feet of distance from one another during these activities. Outdoor pools can also reopen, with restricted capacity.
Michiganders must continue to wear facial coverings when in enclosed public spaces and should continue to take all reasonable precautions to protect themselves, their loved ones, and the community. And they should continue to work from home to the maximum extent possible.
Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Pure Michigan Business Connect has designed a portal specifically to support PPE needs of Michigan businesses of all sizes and industries. It will assist employers in complying with Executive Order 2020-97 as they start the process of re-opening. Through the free PMBC COVID-19 Procurement Platform, the PMBC team will assist businesses in need of access to PPE – including face masks, face shields, gloves, goggles and other materials as necessary to ensure the health and safety of their employees and customers. Access the online portal
Numerous Michigan based colleges and universities, including Michigan State University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, University of Detroit Mercy, plus many others, have announced that they will be returning to campus in the fall with “cautious optimism”. Classes will likely be either a combination of face-to-face and remote learning, have a modified learning schedule, or include flexible hybrid learning.
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has launched a new online COVID-19 workplace safety site, which provides guidance and a toolkit of resources to keep workplaces safe as sectors of the state’s economy reopen. The site includes MIOSHA issued guidelines, posters for employees and customers, factsheets, educational videos, and a reopening checklist, all of which is designed to help businesses safely reopen their doors. The site also provides guidance on how employers create and make available to employees and customers a written exposure control plan. Learn more
Kentucky State Press Conference Summary: 5/27 - 6/2
Governor Beshear announced he is hopeful the state will be able to open a limited number of public pools the week of June 29th with extensive precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. He emphasized that local leaders may choose to keep pools closed based on their assessment of whether or not safety requirements can be met. He also announced that the state will reopen the four Kentucky State Park lodges on June 8th that were previously designated to provide temporary housing for low acuity COVID-19 patients.
Kentucky was recognized as one of the top three states prepared for a safe reopening, and the state has seen a downward trajectory of cases within a 14-day period, even with increased testing.
Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray signed an executive order temporarily authorizing circuit court clerk offices to process expired driving credential renewals and replacement requests remotely. Cardholders whose operator’s license, permit or identification card was lost or expired between March 1st and June 30th, 2020, may apply with their local circuit court clerk to receive a new card in the mail.
In four federal court cases, plaintiffs – including Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron – argued that Kentucky’s executive order on mass gatherings, which prohibited people from congregating in groups, was unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order agreeing with Governor Beshear and confirming that the order limiting mass gatherings to protect public health did not violate the Constitution.
