Keep up with regular news updates regarding Columbus and Ohio’s response to COVID-19 here.
On Monday, April 6 at midnight, the state of Ohio’s Stay at Home order extension goes into effect.
This includes the same measures taken in the first order plus additional guidance, including the requirement for retail stores and other essential businesses to set a maximum number of customers allowed in a store at one time and enforce that limit to maintain social distancing.
The latest numbers out of the Ohio Department of Health include 4,450 cases and 142 deaths statewide, with 644 cases and nine deaths recorded in Franklin County. Over 48,000 people have been tested for the new coronavirus in Ohio.
Other updates come from PromoWest Productions and Franklin County Commissioners.
Bunbury Music Festival Canceled
On Monday, PromoWest Productions announced the cancellation of Bunbury Music Festival in Cincinnati, which was originally scheduled for June 5 – 7, saying they will instead plan for the festival next year. Refunds will be issued to ticket holders, with additional details to follow.
Internet Connectivity Resource
Over the weekend, a resource was announced by Ohio Lieutenant Governor John Husted that will help Ohioans find public hotspot locations for those who otherwise do not have access to the internet from home. A list of providers offering access to hotspots can be found here.
Franklin County Commissioners, NAACP Call for Relief
The commissioners and the Columbus chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are asking local check cashers and payday lenders to charge minimal fees or waive them all together for families who need to cash their federal stimulus checks or COVID-19 Response Prevention, Retention and Contingency plan payments.
Due to the extremely high volume of applications for the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services’ COVID-19 Response PRC Program, which launched on April 2, the funding was exhausted within 24 hours.
The Commissioners and the NAACP Columbus appealed to community-based financial institutions and credit unions to honor these government-administered assistance payments regardless of whether the family has a bank account. They are also asking the institutions to waive fees so that eligible families receive the full benefit from this critical aid.
“Our commissioners see a real barrier, especially for many Black communities, and are taking action now to get ahead of it,” NAACP Columbus President Nana Watson said. “We are all in this crisis together and we all have a part to play. I’m confident the financial sector will answer the call. Our families are counting on them.”
For more information on COVID-19 in Ohio, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.