DeWine Extends Statewide Curfew; Addresses Change To Student Quarantine Guidance

The statewide curfew will continue another three weeks.

(Columbus, Oh.) - Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is extending the statewide curfew.

DeWine announced Wednesday that the 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew will continue on for another three weeks until January 23.

“This is because we don’t yet know what effect the holidays may have on our hospitals and health care systems, so we must continue to be cautious,” said DeWine.

Curfew ➡ @OHDeptofHealth is extending the 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. statewide curfew for another three weeks until January 23, 2021. This is b/c we don’t yet know what effect the holidays may have on our hospitals and health care systems, so we must continue to be cautious. pic.twitter.com/mVDaBYB0vx

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) December 30, 2020

As a reminder, the curfew does not apply to individuals going to and from work, or those who have an emergency or need medical care.

Additionally, the curfew is not intended to stop anyone from getting groceries or going to the pharmacy.

Picking up carry-out orders and getting a drive-thru meal is permitted, but serving food and drink within an establishment must cease at 10:00 p.m.

DeWine also announced that the state is no longer recommending that students who have been exposed to another COVID positive student quarantine, as long as all students have been wearing masks and the exposure took place in a classroom setting.

“Earlier this year, we pledged to look at the rate of COVID transmission in schools. Prelim results from Ohio Schools COVID-19 Evaluation Team found if students in class are masked/distanced, they did not have an increased risk of catching the virus from a nearby positive student,” DeWine added.