More than 187,000 Ohioans filed for unemployment last week, while many more are worried about their jobs and their businesses.
The state has said that businesses considered "essential" under Ohio's stay at home order can remain open, but they must be following safety guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. If they don't, businesses could face penalties.
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said most businesses are following best practices by keeping people apart, cleaning and sanitizing, and monitoring employees’ health.
“There are some that aren’t, and we are going to take action," Husted says. "So far, on the ones that we've been working on, the businesses have either voluntarily complied or in one case, they just said, OK, we're not going to do this anymore. We're going to start making valves for ventilators and things like that.".
Husted said those businesses that stay open should prepare a document explaining why they’re essential and what they’re doing to protect employees and customers.
He said businesses shouldn't be taking risks by staying open when they're not really essential or by not following the rules.
“I would just I would appeal to you as a fellow citizen: Don't do stupid things. I mean, seriously," Husted said. "If we don't practice social distancing, it's estimated that we will spread coronavirus to 2.8 people if we're infected."
