Oh Department 10 of Health Mike DeWine. Governor Amy Acton, M.D., MPH, Director Jon Husted, Lt. Governor ORDER In Re: Closure of the Polling Locations in the State of Ohio on Tuesday March 17, 2020 1, Amy Acton, MD, MPH, Director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), pursuant to the authority granted to me in RC. 3701.13 to ?make special orders. . .for preventing the spread of contagious or infectious diseases? Order the polling locations in the State of Ohio closed on March 17, 2020. I make this Order to avoid the imminent threat with a high probability of widespread exposure to COVID-19 with a signi?cant risk of substantial harm to a large number of the people in the general population, including the elderly and people with weakened immune systems and chronic medical conditions. Further, it is clear from history and experience that large number of people gather at polling locations which increases the risk of transmission of COVID-19. To conduct an election at this time would force poll workers and voters to face an unacceptable risk of contracting COVID-19. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death, is caused by the SARS-COV- 2 virus, which is a new strain of coronavirus that had not been previously identified 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 respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It may be possible that individuals can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes. The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. On January 23, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health issued a Director?s Journal Entry making 19 a Class A reportable disease in Ohio. On January 28, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health hosted the first statewide call with local health departments and healthcare providers regarding COVID-19. On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern. On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary, Alex M. Azar II, declared a public health emergency for the United States to aid the nation?s healthcare community in responding to 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-19 and revised Person Under Investigation (PUI) criteria. 246 North High Street 614 466?3543 Columbus, Ohio 43215 U.S.A. The State of Ohio is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider of ADA Services. On February 3, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health trained over 140 personnel to staff a call center for in the event it was needed. 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. On February 6, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health updated all agency assistant directors and chiefs of staff on preparedness and status during the Governor?s cabinet meeting. On February 7, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency met to conduct advance planning for COVID-19. 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 in Ohio. On February 14, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health held a conference call with health professionals 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, Hamilton County Public Health, and the Ohio State University. On February 27, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency briefed the directors of State agencies during the Governor?s cabinet meeting regarding preparedness and the potential activation of the Emergency Operations Center. On February 28, 2020, the "Governor DeWine, Health Director Update Prevention and Preparedness Plan? was sent to a broad range of associations representing healthcare, dental, long?term care, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, business, public transit, faith?based organizations, non-profit organizations, and local governments. On March 2, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health activated a Joint Information Center to coordinate 9 communications. On March 5, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health hosted the Governor?s Summit on Preparedness, a meeting with the Governor, cabinet agency directors, local health department commissioners, and their staff. On March 6, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health opened a call center to answer questions from the public regarding COVID- 9. On March 9, 2020, testing by the Department of Health confirmed that three (3) patients were positive for in the State of Ohio. This con?rms the presence of a potentially dangerous condition which may affect the health, safety and welfare of citizens of Ohio. On March 9, 2020, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency activated the Emergency Operations Center. On March 9, 2020, the Governor Declared a State of Emergency in Executive Order 2020-01D. On March 11, 2020, the head of the World Health Organization declared a pandemic. On March 1 1, 2020, testing by the Ohio Department of Health con?rmed that one (1) more patient was positive for in the State of Ohio. On March 1 1, 2020, the Ohio Departments of Health and Veterans Services issued a Joint Directors? Order to limit access to Ohio nursing homes and similar facilities. On March 15, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health issued a Director?s Order to limit access to Ohio?s jails and detention facilities. On March 15, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health issued a Director?s Order to limit the sale of food and beverages, liquor, beer and wine to carry-out and delivery only. On March 15, 2020, the CDC issued Interim Guidance for mass gatherings or large community events, stating that such events that consist of 50 or more people should be cancelled or postponed. As of March 16, 2020, Ohio has con?rmed ?fty (50) cases of in thirteen (13) counties throughout the state. Multiple areas of the United States are experiencing ?community spread? of the virus that causes COVID- 19. Community spread, de?ned as the transmission of an illness for which the source is unknown, means that isolation of known areas of infection is no longer enough to control spread. The CDC reports that people are most contagious when they are most (the sickest) however some spread might be possible before people show although that is not the main way the virus spreads. Mass gatherings (50 or more persons) increase the risk of community transmission of the virus COVID- 19. Accordingly, to avoid an imminent threat with a high probability of widespread exposure to with a signi?cant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people in the general population, including the elderly and people with weakened immune systems and chronic medical conditions, I hereby ORDER all polling locations in the State of Ohio closed on March 17, 2020. This Order shall take effect immediately and remain in full force and effect until the State of Emergency declared by the Governor no (2 exis or the Director of the Ohio Department of Health rescinds or modi?es this Order. W) ?13?th March 16, 2020 K-K?rii (Acton, MD, MPH Direc or of Health