MIKE DEWINE . .. GOVERNOR -. ., . I - STATE OF Executive Order 2020- 01D .. Declaring a State of Emergency 7 ?1 a WHEREAS, 19 1s a respiratory disease that can result 1n serious illness or death, I is Caused by the SARS- 2 virus, which is a new strain of coronavirus that had not been i previously identi?ed in humans and can easily spread from person to person. The Virus is Spread between individuals who are in close contact with each other (within about six feet) through I respiratory droplets prodUCed when an infected perSOn coughs or sneezes. It may be posSible that individuals can get 19. by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then. touching their own mouth, nose or eyes; and - . I WHEREAS, currently, the Centers fOr DiSease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists oVer 79 countries with con?rmed cases of COVID- 19. The CDC reports over 98, 000 diagnosed cases worldwide with 3, 380 deaths reported Worldwide. The CDC has announced 164 con?rmed and ?presumptive pOSitive cases, with eleven deaths reported from the disease 1n the United States, and - - . - WHEREAS, on January 23, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health issued a Director?s 1 Journal Entry making COVID- l9 a Class A reportable disease 111 Ohio; and -WHEREAS, on January 28, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health hosted the ?rst statewide call with local health departments and healthcare providers regarding COVID- l9; and 1-WHEREAS on January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of 19 a public health . emergency of international concern; and . . . . WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, Health and Humah Services Secretary, Alex M. AzarI - declared a public health emergency for the United States to aid the nation?s healthcare community in responding to l9, and . I WH.EREAS, on February 1, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health issued a StateWide' Health Alert NetWork to provide local health departments and healthcare providers With updated guidance for COVID- l9 and revised Person Under Investigation (PUI) criteria, and .WHEREWAS on February 3, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health trained oVer 140 personnel to staff a call center for COVID- 19, in the event it Was needed, and . WHEREAS on February 5, 2020, the?Ohio Department Of Health began updating and notifying the media of the number of PUIs in Ohio every Tuesday and Thursday; and WHEREAS, on February 6, 2020,1118 Ohio Department of Health updated all agency assistant directors and chiefs of staff on 19- preparedness and status during the G0vernorI? cabinet meeting; and . . WHEREAS, on February. 7, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency met to conduCt advance planning for COVIDI- 19, and 0 WHEREAS, on February 13,2020, the Ohio Department of Health conducted a Pandemic Tabletop Exercise with State agencies to review responsive actions should there be a pandemic 1nI I Ohio, and 7 WHEREAS, on February 14, 2020, the Ohio- Department of Health held a cOnference call with health profeSSionalIs across the state. The purpose of the call was to inform and engage the . healthcare Community in Ohio; Presentations were provided by the Department of Health, I. Hamilton County Public Health, and the Ohio State University; and WHEREAS, on February 27, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio 1 Emergency Management Agency briefed the directors of State agencies during the Governor? cabinet meeting regarding preparedness and the potential activation of the Emergency Operations- Center; and on February 28, 2020, the "Governor DeWine, Health. Director Update, .. 0' 19 Prevention and Preparedness Plan" was sent to a' broad range of associations- - 3 representing healthcare, dental, long?term care, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, business, 3 public transit, faith-based organizations, non?profit organizations, and local governments, and 7 WHEREAS, on March 2, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health activated a Joint - InfOrmatiOn Center to coordinate COVID- 19 communications; and WHEREAS, on March 5, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health hosted the Governor?s Summit on 19 P1eparedness, a; meeting with the Governor, cabinet agency directors, local . health department commiSSioners, and their staff, and a . . - WHEREAS, on March 6, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health opened a call center to- answer questions from the public regarding 19'; and WHEREAS, on March 09, 2020, testing by the Department of Health confirmed that 1 three (3) patients were positive for COVID- 19 in the State of Ohio, creating a potentially I - ,"dangerous Condition which may affect the health, safety and welfare ?of citizens of Ohio; and Page 2 0f4 . 1 i WHEREAS on March Q9, W2020 the Ohio Emergency Management Agency activated the Emergency Operations Center; and 1 ..- . . WHEREAS, in aCcordance With Ohio ReviSed Cede section 55 02 22, this Executive Order. is necessary to- authorize previously-alerted state departments and agencies to prepare to respond 7 to this public health emergency as needed; NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike DeWine, Governor 0f the State of Ohio, by Virtue of the authority vested 1n me by the ConStitution, the laws of this State and in accordance with Section 5502 22 of' the Ohio Revised Code do hereby order and direct that. 1. A state of emergency is declared for the entire State to protect the Well- being of the -. citizens [of the Ohio from the dangerous effects of ?19, to justify the authorization of personnel Of State departments and agencies as are necessary, to coordinate the State responSe to 19, and to assist in protecting the lives, safety, and health of the .citiZens of Ohio. . . - hereby further request the Department of AdminiStrative Services and other departments and agencies of the State to suspend purChasing and cOntraCting requirements - {contained 111 Chapters 125 and 153 of the Revised Code, pursuant to Section 125. 061 of the Revised Code, during the period of the emergency for the Ohio Emergency .- Management Agency and any other State agency participating in emergency assistance under this declaration, in order to procure any necessary resources or supplies to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of 01119.1 7 i. 3. After consultation with the appropriate medical experts, the Department of Health shall create and require the use Of diagnostic and treatment guidelines and provide those . . - guidelines to health care providers, institutions and providers. 4. The Department of Health issue guidelines for priVate busineSSes regarding appropriate - Work and travel restrictions, if necessary. - State agencies shall develop and implement procedures," including suspendingor . I adopting temporary rules within an agency?s authority, Consistent withxreCOmrnendations from, the Department of Health [designed to. prevent or alleviate this public health threat. 6. This Proclamation does nOt require the implementation of. the Department Of - Administrative Services DireCtive 1.1 Accordingly, State employees? obligations to 1 _-traV.el to and from work Is not to be limited as a result of this proclamation. . All Citizens are urged to heed the advice of the Department of Health and other emergency of?cials regarding this public health emergency in order to protect their health and safety. . Page 3 of 4 8. Persons who believe?that they have been subjected to excessive prices for essential consumer goods during this public health emergency should contact the office of the Ohio Attorney General at 800- 282- 0515. - - . I signed this Executive Order On March 09 2020, in Columbus, Ohio, and it shall take effect immediately and remain in full force and effect until the emergency no longer eXists, such . i time to be determined by the Director of Health and the EXecutive Director of the Emergency -- Management Agency 1n consultation with the Governor, who will coordinate State response efforts - and- terminate the emergency upon the recommendation of appropriate officials of the other responding State departments and agencies, - 1 5714/5 ?aw Mike DeWine, Governor a - .- 1- . - (Win 7/ ATTESTFrank LaRose, Secretary of State Page 4 of4_