Restaurants and some hands on businesses got some much needed news this afternoon from Ohio's Governor Mike DeWine. After being closed except for carry-out or curbside and delivery service Ohio restaurants will be able to begin patio service on May 15. Inside meal service will not be permitted until May 21, and then only with the proper protection including 6 foot space between tables. Servers will be required to wear face masks, with cooks and back-room employees exempt. Guests also could be asked to wear masks. Capacity limits could be imposed based on restaurant and bar space.
Nail salons, barber and hair salons, day spas and tanning shops will also be allowed to open on May 15 with best practices to include face masks, and customers waiting outside in some cases for their appointments. No word on when tattoo parlors will be allowed to open.
According to DeWine “This is a new gamble, a new journey ... marked with danger signs. The danger is, we relax,” he said. “If we relax, take things for granted ... things are not going to go the way we want. We don’t want to see a spike.”
Meanwhile, Ohio recorded 555 new coronavirus cases and 46 additional COVID-19 deaths Thursday.
In Toledo and Lucas County Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz Thursday announced the city’s 2020 Fourth of July celebration has officially been canceled and all city pools will remain closed for the season. This follows the cancellation of the ProMedica Summer Concert Series, and the cancellation of concerts at Centennial Terrace in Sylvania. The annual UT Art On The Mall event is also cancelled and at this time the Toledo Botanical Garden Festival of The Arts is being rescheduled.