COVID-19 Archives - Columbus Navigator https://www.columbusnavigator.com/tag/covid-19/ Your Daily Guide To The Best of Columbus Tue, 01 Aug 2023 06:46:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.3 https://www.columbusnavigator.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/red-circle.png COVID-19 Archives - Columbus Navigator https://www.columbusnavigator.com/tag/covid-19/ 32 32 These Columbus Businesses Have Closed Permanently Due To COVID-19 https://www.columbusnavigator.com/covid-19-columbus-business-closures/ Fri, 22 Jan 2021 09:02:54 +0000 https://www.columbusnavigator.com/?p=47543 Not all businesses in Columbus have been able to weather the storm.

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]]> The challenges that have come with fighting a global pandemic are so much more than just our health and safety.

The pandemic has had wide-reaching impacts, especially on the economy. While we won’t know the full damage for many years to come, businesses around the country have faced incredible struggles. Here in Columbus, several local businesses have been forced to close their doors for good.

We’ll be updating this list periodically, so if we’ve missed a favorite business of yours here in Columbus that deserves a proper goodbye, be sure to send us an email and let us know.

Philco
Open since 2013, Philco was open for carryout and delivery at the start of the pandemic for about a week. Since then, they have remained closed and although no official announcement has been made, the space is up for lease online and some of the interior furniture has been removed.

La Scala
La Scala has been a go-to destination in Dublin since they opened in 1972. The restaurant is still technically open, but they’ll be closing at the end of the month. Of course, they’re dealing with the loss of business due to the pandemic, but they’re also mourning the owner, William Lalli, who died of COVID-19 over the summer.

Spagio
Spagio closed their restaurant in Grandview Heights and their Wine Bistro in Worthington. Spagio had been open for 40 years, serving the community delicious European cuisine.

Firefly American Bistro
This New Albany restaurant had only been open a few years. After hitting a great stride and feeding satisfied customers, the pandemic hit and the restaurant was forced to close.

Mission Coffee Co.
Mission Coffee closed their Short North cafe permanently. You can still get your fix at their Roasting Annex at 1051 N 4th St. and they do have plans to open a new cafe at some point in the future.

Short North Coffee House
Short North Coffee House closed back in July. The space has already been rented out to Happy Little Treats, a vegan bakery and coffee shop.

Juniper
Juniper’s stunning rooftop had become a fast favorite for weddings and cocktails alike. Both Juniper and event venue Dock 580 closed abruptly in June, leaving several couples without a venue for their wedding day.

The Sycamore & Cosecha Cocina
Both owned by Grow Restaurants, The Sycamore (German Village) and Cosecha Cocina (Italian Village) closed at the beginning of the shut down back in March and were unable to reopen. The permanent closure of both restaurants was announced at the end of May.

Belly Burger
Belly Burger had only been open downtown about four months when the pandemic hit. They’ve since closed permanently.

Brazenhead Pub
Brazenhead in Grandview opened back in 1999, and although they were able to temporarily ride out the restaurant restrictions of the pandemic, they closed their doors last week. The restaurant is now up for auction.

Ambrose & Eve
Ambrose & Eve hadn’t been open long before the pandemic hit. Like other new service industry businesses, riding out a crisis of this magnitude just wasn’t in the cards from Ambrose & Eve owner Catie Randazzo.

Forty’s Chicken and Waffles
Losing any restaurant is a blow, but saying goodbye to Forty’s Chicken and Waffles was rough. This fried chicken joint was incredible, but their location in a bar and lack of customers due to COVID-19 proved to be an insurmountable odd.

Baba’s
This cozy little cafe known for its delicious breakfast sandwiches opened back in 2016. But in the first months of the pandemic, carryout and delivery options weren’t enough to sustain the business. Owners Dan & Caroline Kraus shared the heartbreaking decision to close on their website and it’s worth a read.

Nancy’s Home Cooking
While the original Nancy’s location closed in Clintonville in March 2020, they reopened downtown shortly after. Unfortunately, the downtown spot was only able to stay open for two months. Owners Rick & Richelle hope to reopen Nancy’s again at some point and although there haven’t been any specific announcements made, they are maintaining the restaurant’s Facebook page so fans can follow along for any potential updates.

Miller’s Ale House
This Florida-based restaurant closed both Ohio locations, at Easton and Grandview. Miller’s had been here in Columbus since they opened in Grandview back in 2013.

Bruno’s Pizza & Restaurant
After 48 years of service, Bruno’s Pizza & Restaurant closed their doors in December. The beloved restaurant shared the news on social media, saying “The COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten the lives and livelihood of us all. We here at Bruno’s, have put forth tireless efforts, to try and adapt to the changes needed in order to survive this unprecedented time.”

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]]> If You’re Quarantined With Kids, Google’s 3D Animals Are A Delightful Way To Kill An Hour https://www.columbusnavigator.com/google-3d-animals/ Tue, 28 Apr 2020 06:33:17 +0000 https://www.columbusnavigator.com/?p=44330 So much fun.

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]]> Looking for a way to entertain the kids for an hour or two?

This Stay-At-Home situation has come with many challenges. Some are admittedly more frivolous than others, but at the end of the day, everyone is just doing the best they can do to get through it. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by all of the time at home, you’re not alone.

Some parents are balancing child care, assisting school-aged kids with virtual learning, and working from all at the same time, and it’s an exhausting task.

If you’ve been on the hunt for a way to entertain the kids while you buckle down and get some work done, I think I may have a suggestion. Google has a virtual zoo and you can access it from your smartphone. All you have to do is search.

I don’t mean like a tour of an existing zoo or live-stream of animals. This AR experience is more like PokemonGO. Once you search for an animal in Google on your phone, you will have the option to view it in 3D. The AR animals pop-up in your environment exactly the same size as they are in real life, although they can be enlarged and shrunk, and they make lifelike sounds.

The AR program will react to your environment, which means that if you turn your camera towards the couch, the animal will end up standing on it. The program works on most smartphones and there are currently a couple of dozen animals that you can view.

Obviously, seeing a Tiger in AR isn’t exactly the same as seeing one in person, but it is pretty hilarious to see it standing next to your house cat in the middle of your living room. Hours of entertainment, my friends.

Get going, Columbus. You’ve got a bunch of animals to put in hilarious positions throughout your home.

via GIPHY

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]]> What It’s Like To Open A Bar In Columbus 30 Days Before COVID-19 Took Off https://www.columbusnavigator.com/opening-new-bar-during-coronavirus/ Fri, 24 Apr 2020 06:05:18 +0000 https://www.columbusnavigator.com/?p=44294 A day in the life of a new bar during a pandemic.

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]]> Life is unpredictable, as many of us have been reminded and been forced to adapt to new circumstances.

2020 started strong for a lot of people — new jobs, new homes, new businesses. Then, COVID-19 brought life as we knew it to a grinding halt. For some, they had just gotten started — a strong start even, only for a promising start to be thrown into an uncertain and terrifying future.

One southside bar opened in mid-February, only for the Ohio “Stay-at-home” mandate to take effect 30 days later, closing all non-essential businesses. Daddy’s, started by Columbus native Scotty Niemet is that bar. At Daddy’s, he created a space that aims to bring a new perspective to Columbus’ nightlife scene.

“I wanted Daddy’s to be a new alternative angle in Columbus for what a queer space could be. More focus on DJ and dance party culture, where the crowd is diverse and dynamic,” Says Niemet.

At Daddy’s, you’ll find less of an emphasis on top 40 tracks, or traditional Rupaul’s Drag Race style drag performer looks. Here, for example, you’d be more likely to find a local DJ performing their new house music or industrial electronic tracks.

Maybe you’d find an alternative drag performer, whose aesthetic is less about being pretty — but more about making an impact or being particularly striking to look at. The bar’s dark interior with intimate lighting and risque hand-drawn illustrations set a mood unlike many other bars in the city.

Although considered to be an LGBTQ bar, it has events with music not often played at other bars and its featured entertainers and DJs bring people of all kinds to Daddy’s.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2AfOf2FLsB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

After a very strong late February and early March, Daddy’s, like most other nightlife spaces, has been forced to close. Although the bar had a strong start — it is a new bar, still finding its footing and space in the Columbus scene. It can be incredibly tricky to maintain a business without a nationwide shutdown and pandemic.

“It’s been really scary, [and I am] hoping we can stay afloat while shut down. I have been applying to some support funding,” Niemet says.

The US Government has offered a new loan program in the recently-passed stimulus bill. Whether or not this is adequate for all small businesses affected by the outbreak, remains to be seen.
As far as the right now, Niemet and his staff have been prepping to whether the storm and cut expenses as much as they can.

“We did an inventory of beers and have a distributor that will buy back stuff,” says Niemet. “We did start a merch shop online where we have shirts, hoodies, candles, and people can pay forward for a bar tab.”

Scotty is trying to keep his staff with some form of income at this time — he hopes to take the profit from the merch sales and give it directly to the staff.

Still, there are logistical concerns with the relief and support offered for small businesses. Although there is a 90-day commercial rent moratorium for small businesses, it did not go into effect until April 1st. Thus, he had to pay the rent for a business that currently has no income. Even the small business government loans seem daunting- all of these directives are new, and Niemet is unsure if his bar qualifies for assistance. Many of the systems meant to help small businesses are overwhelmed at the moment, so getting help and asking questions may take time — time waiting on income. However, Daddy’s has only been open 30 days, and thus any sort of assistance may prove to be more finicky to get compared to a more established business.

“The thing that worries me with us only being open a month, is we don’t have any financial info to really go off of,” Scotty says.

Despite not being able to operate, Scotty continues to learn. He’s using this downtime to refine his bar experience. “I’m attempting to get a lot of things more organized and corrected with bar things. Such as event planning and promo. And just things that we have observed that we can do better to serve our clients,” he says.

The closure of non-essential businesses affects all nightlife and service industry workers. But, it can tend to hit LGBTQ spaces harder, since they’ve historically been such an important part of the community. Many performers and employees rely on income from these spaces. Many patrons feel as if these spaces are the few safe spaces where they can relax and be themselves without the threat of abuse related to gender identity or sexuality.

But, as of right now, gatherings of 10 or more have been effectively banned. “Social distancing” seems to be our new reality for now with no immediate end in sight. Many people are nervous, as they ask if their beloved bars and nightlife spaces ever return? If they do return, how will they change, if they change at all?

Scotty remains optimistic that when the Coronavirus pandemic dies down, people will be eager to get back out to spaces like his.

“I think we will all do ok once we are up and rolling. People are gonna want to make up for lost social time. We opened during the slow bar season and we did so great. So once it’s warm and people want to go back out safely. I think we can keep the patrons coming in and dancing,” he says.

Scotty also has high hopes for a more connected LGBTQ community after COVID-19 subsides.

“I hope once the bars open back up people will have a more empathetic view of the importance of queer spaces. And we need to uplift queer bars because this is hitting us really bad,” he says.

As more people seem to get restless, hopefully for everyone’s sake this all subsides and we can all get back to supporting our local small businesses.

Daddy’s is located at the edge of Merion Village, on the corner of Parsons Avenue and Stewart Avenue.

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]]> Stuck At Home? Explore Columbus Metro Parks With Animal Enthusiast Coyote Peterson https://www.columbusnavigator.com/columbus-metro-parks-coyote-peterson/ Tue, 14 Apr 2020 05:06:02 +0000 https://www.columbusnavigator.com/?p=44000 The Real Snapping Turtles of Columbus.

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]]> Listen up, animal lovers.

Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks have teamed up with Coyote Peterson to explore the wildlife that calls our metro parks home.

Peterson got his start on Youtube, creating content showcasing the power of stings and bites of some of the world’s most intense animals. Now, he has his own show on Animal Planet called Brave the Wild.

Peterson is a Buckeye through and through, graduating from The Ohio State University back in 2004. The turtle population, as well as other wildlife, is protected within the Metro Park system and Peterson will be monitoring the population and their health.

The first video from the Metro Parks features Hubert, a resident snapping turtle at Blendon Woods Metro Park. He’s around 25 years of age and according to Metro Parks, he’s always a bit grumpy. Currently he weighs 34.5 pounds but as he feeds on fish, tadpoles, frogs and other small creatures throughout the summer he will bulk up and reach his top weight of 40 pounds.

During the video, Coyote mentions that the Metro Parks are home to some of the largest snapping turtles on record in the United States, and I find that fact a little mindblowing. I tend to think of the waters of Ohio as a relatively safe place to splash around. But knowing there could be a 40 pound turtle with the ability to clamp down on my extremities has me rethinking the creeking I did as a kid.

If you’re wondering what a snapping turtle bite looks like, Peterson is no stranger to their chomps. In his work studying snapping turtles, he’s had a few painful bites, but none moresoe than when the tip of his thumb was nearly bit off a few years ago.

With the kids home from school and people spending more time at home, it’s super awesome to have creative, informative content like this coming out. If you’d like to follow along with Coyote Peterson, you can check out the videos on Metro Parks Facebook and Instagram.

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]]> Everything You Need To Know About Coronavirus In Columbus https://www.columbusnavigator.com/coronavirus-in-columbus/ Tue, 07 Apr 2020 06:40:43 +0000 https://www.columbusnavigator.com/?p=42958 COVID-19 news, updated as events progress.

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]]> New information will be added below and included in our daily newsletter.

The latest:

May 28:

  • Beginning June 8, outdoor visitors will be allowed at certain long-term care facilities around the state. “We now have now have gone on several months and we know that it’s becoming more and more difficult for people,” DeWine said during a press conference. “They’ve been away from their relatives. We know this causes a great deal of heartache.”

The Columbus and Ohio COVID-19 numbers:

Previously:

May 26:

  • Gov. DeWine announced that as part of a new initiative, all staff at nursing homes will be tested for COVID-19. This will better help congregate living facilities to slow and prevent the spread of coronavirus through their staff and residents.

  • Gyms and other fitness centers were able to resume business on Tuesday. Around Columbus, some local gyms have taken social distancing precautions seriously including removing and spacing out equipment, instituting new sanitization protocols, canceled classes, and changing the flow of traffic throughout the gyms.

May 25:

  • The Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced that some trails in Hocking Hills will reopen in mid-June. Modifications were made to trails that allow traffic to be one way, which helps eliminate the issue of social distancing while passing other hikers on the trail. You can read more about which trails will be open when right here.

May 21:

May 20:

  • Heads up if you filed for unemployment: the company responsible for building a new filing system had a data breach and your personal data was compromised. They’re offering credit monitoring services to make up for it, at least for now, before the inevitable lawsuits. More here.
  • Worthington Pools will not open this summer. Regardless of state restrictions, it is looking like certain areas of life will face difficulties reopening because of the losses that may be incurred. Hilliard pools are discussing a season that would have losses estimated in excess of a half-million dollars. More here.
  • Franklin County Public Health has apologized after advising African Americans to avoid face coverings “associated with gang symbolism”. More here.
  • Perhaps in a preview of what will happen with the Ohio State Fair, the Franklin County Fair has announced that the fair will go on, but there will be no midway, rides, vendors, or commercial activities. More on the changes here.

May 19

  • Personal health restrictions in Ohio are now voluntary. More on the new changes here.
  • DeWine says Ohio has flattened the curve: DeWine said that he’s revising and renaming the stay-at-home order, which is in part called Ohioans Protecting Ohioans.

    “And so now we’re moving from orders to strong recommendations,” he said. “This is a new phase in our battle against the virus.”

    DeWine said that the R0, also known as R-naught or transmission rate, has decreased from one infected person infecting two people to around one infected person infecting one. The state was able to flatten the curve, he said.

    “Since the original stay-at-home order, a lot of has happened. our orders have evolved and the circumstances have evolved in Ohio as well,” he said. “It’s time for our orders to reflect the reality of where we are today.”

  • Governor DeWine says we are now transitioning to new order: “Ohioans Helping Ohioans”:

  • Pelotonia will not be doing a group ride this year, and will instead be “redefining” the event, offering participants the opportunity to participate whereever they are. More details here.
  • Annie Glenn, wife of Ohio senator and astronaut John Glenn, has passed away from COVID-19. She was 100 years old.

May 18

May 17

  • Governor DeWine reacts to situations like the one seen this weekend at Standard Hall in the Short North:

  • Ohio prisons remain a serious problem on both public health and humanitarian levels:

May 14:

  • Columbus city government today shared their plan for how they will be spending federal CARES act funds. Testing, personal protective equipment, EMS response, shelter & food assistance, small business support, and rental assistance are where the money will be spent. More details here.
  • Governor DeWine admits that Ohio is not where he had hoped it would be:

  • Gyms and fitness centers will be allowed to reopen May 26th “if they can meet safety protocols”.
  • Campgrounds will be allowed to reopen May 21st, also on the condition of meeting protocols.
  • The BMV will be opening for selective services beginning May 26th. People are encouraged to continue using the online portal when possible – OPLATES.com.
  • Childcare centers will be re-opening May 31:

  • Total unemployment claim number for Ohio during the pandemic now stands at 1,169,694 after 50,548 more Ohioans filed last week. Over 36 million people have filed nationally over the last two months.

May 13:

  • Families with children who receive free or reduced lunch at school are now eligible for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program. Families will receive roughly $300 – more details here.
  • Self-employed, independent contractors and 1099 workers can finally apply for jobless benefits. The website for doing so has gone live – visit here.
  • More cancellations and movement on summer events: Gahanna has officially moved their 4th of July fireworks to Labor Day, Groveport has canceled their 4th of July celebration, and so has Clintonville. (Clintonville’s might be permanently done.)

May 12:

  • Although they weren’t originally scheduled to reopen this week, Gov. DeWine announced that Tattoo/piercing Parlors and massage locations will be able to open on May 15.

  • About 850,000 Ohio children who receive free or reduced-price meals at school will soon receive money to buy food through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) announced. The program is funded through the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act. “We know families are struggling right now, balancing work or career searches, distance learning, and caring for families,” said Governor DeWine. “Hopefully, this additional assistance will provide more choices for families.”

May 11:

  • Although several businesses are reopening this week, the governor has yet to make a decision regarding childcare in the state. The topic has come up repeatedly at the daily press conferences, but the governor said he won’t be making any announcements until there’s a firm plan in place.

  • Two studies released earlier this week by The Ohio State University researchers are helping officials understand the unemployment crisis caused by the pandemic. The studies come at a critical time when states are weighing the economic impact of the pandemic against the ability of citizens to remain safe.

May 10:

  • Cancellations: 4th of July fireworks and parades have been canceled or postponed (Labor Day?) in Upper Arlington, Whitehall, Worthington, Reynoldsburg, New Albany, Dublin, and Hilliard. Canal Winchester has decided not to open their pool for the 2020 season.

May 7:

May 6:

  • Republicans in the Ohio House of Representatives have passed a bill to limit the authority Dr. Amy Acton, limiting stay-at-home orders issued by the Ohio Department of Health to 14 days. The bill will go to the Senate for a vote, but ultimately, representatives from Governor DeWine’s office have said he will veto the legislation.

  • The Ohio Department of Health is hiring contact tracers to help in the fight against COVID-19. Non-manager positions start at $18.59/hour and most of the work will be done remotely. If you’re interested in applying, you can do so here.

May 5:

  • Governor DeWine’s administration has set up a portal for businesses to report employees who refuse to work because of fear of sickness so they can be denied unemployment. Ohio’s unemployment system has been virtually unusable at times for workers needing assistance. The URL for reporting workers hesitant to return to work reads “covid-19-fraud”.
  • Plans for fall schooling are underway, and Governor DeWine said today there are options on the table that would include two days a week in-person supplemented by online learning. This action would allow schools to divide a student population in half so schools would have fewer students in buildings at any given time. More here.
  • $775 million in budget cuts have been announced by Governor DeWine following the decimation of government tax receipts. Cuts will include “K-12 school basic aid, $300 million; Medicaid health care for the poor, $210 million; higher education, $110 million; other agency spending, $100 million; and other education items, $55 million.” State tax revenue for April was $776 million short of the estimates used to build the state budget.
  • New closings: Hilliard has canceled Memorial Day service and their pools will be closed this summer. Grandview Heights has done the same. Franklin County is currently prohibiting garage and yard sales.

May 4:

  • As part of an effort to expand testing capacity, the Ohio Department of Health has issued new guidance on prioritizing available tests, including testing those in congregate living situations like nursing homes, homeless shelters, and juvenile detention facilities.

  • BMVs in Ohio are planning to reopen, some as early as later this month. In addition to setting appointments online, the facilities will also be taking additional social distancing measures and installing cough/sneeze guards in areas where employees deal with customers.

May 3:

May 1:

  • If you are missing theatrical movies, South Drive-In will be reopening soon. Here is their message and plan.
  • The governor said in press conference today, in response to a question about summer, that people will “have to make decisions for themselves in the future” and that while we are all mitigating risks the danger will still exist.
  • Statehouse protests have become a daily thing with dozens of people showing up with signs running the gamut from anti-semitism to anti-choice to COVID-19 related messages. Now we see harassment of journalists:

  • Ohio has extended some stay-at-home rules in a new order called “Stay Healthy and Safe at Home”. This functions as a recognition that Ohio is entering a new phase, and has exceptions to the previous order. Gatherings of more than 10 are still prohibited. You can read the full text of the new order here.

April 30:

April 29:

  • The Ohio Department of Education issued guidelines for Ohio schools on how to handle graduation. Some suggestions include drive-thru graduation, single-family graduation, and virtual ceremonies.

  • Although the governor is not mandating that all Ohioans wear masks in public, he and the Ohio Department of Health are encouraging the behavior.

April 28:

April 27:

  • Governor DeWine announced his detailed plan to reopen Ohio. The process will be gradual and will not include all businesses.

  • The federal government laid out guidelines for testing around the country. The new testing targets would ensure states had enough COVID-19 tests available to sample at least 2.6% of their populations each month — a figure already met by a majority of states.

April 26:

  • Gov. DeWine is expected to announce plans to re-open Ohio on Monday afternoon. The plans were being finalized over the weekend as the state attempts to balance public safety and the economy.

  • From virtual learning to working from home, we are more dependent on the internet than ever before. That importance is shedding a light on the connectivity issues that people all around Ohio are dealing with. With the potential for online school and working from home continuing, state officials are under increasing pressure to make sure that all Ohioans have access to the internet. The state has launched the Broadband Ohio office to help deal with the issues, headed by Lt. Gov. John Husted.

    “This pandemic makes it very clear that this is no longer a luxury,” said Husted. “It is a necessity in the modern world and we need to create the public private partnerships to bring that to reality as quickly as we can to as many people as we can.”

  • The ongoing pandemic has cost Ohio’s colleges hundreds of millions of dollars. With the future of on-campus learning uncertain, many institutions are exploring budget and personnel cuts in an attempt to weather the storm.

April 23:

  • The two worst hot spots in the country are now Ohio prisons. Marion is #1, and Pickaway Correctional Institution has grown to #2.
  • The week’s unemployment numbers are in, and jobless claims nationwide were up 4.4 million. In Ohio, 109,369 applied for unemployment benefits in the last week, which has the total nearing 1 million (964,566) since March 15th.
  • The plan for re-opening Ohio will be shared on Ohio. Governor DeWine said today that Ohio is in accordance with the federal administration’s plan, but this process will be “an Ohio-based process.”

April 22:

  • The governor announced the first positive case of COVID-19 among the juvenile corrections population. The patient was isolated on Monday evening after exhibiting symptoms.

  • The Health Department is easing restrictions that were put in place on elective surgeries around the state. “Patients must be informed of the risk, of course, of contracting COVID-19, and that impact during the post-operative recovery process,” said Gov. DeWine.
  • The Governor took the opportunity on Wednesday night to condemn anti-Semitic protestors who were at the statehouse over the weekend, as well as condeming State Sen. Andrew Brenner (R) who likened Dr. Amy Acton’s actions during the pandemic to those of Nazis of World War II.

April 21:

  • A Columbus homeless shelter dedicated to serving those with COVID-19 is up and running. The shelter can hold up to 300 people in isolation, but there are currently only 11 residents. Officials expect that number to increase but hope that it won’t. “I hope we don’t have to fully use these facilities, but what we’ve done is stand them up and waiting, just like our convention center is ready and waiting if that is needed for the surge,” said Community Shelter Board director Michelle Heritage.
  • The path to reopening Ohio will be a gradual one. Ohio officials have maintained that opening up the economy won’t be like a flick of a switch, and Dr. Amy Acton reiterated that point during the daily press conference. “You start back out into society by doing the lowest risk things first, watch how we deal with the spread of infection, then turn the dial a little more,” she explained.

April 20:

  • Gov. DeWine announced that Ohio students would continue studying remotely through the end of the school year.

April 19:

April 16:

  • Ohio will begin the slow process of reopening on May 1:

  • 5 million more jobless claims were made last week, bringing the total number of unemployed to 22 million. (link) Ohio residents filed 157,218 claims, down 68,973 from the prior week. How much of that drop can be attributed to an unreachable system? More: Ohioans Desperate To Reach Unemployment Hotline: ‘It Literally Consumes Everything I Do’
  • The state has confirmed 836 positive cases in nursing homes.
  • The Memorial golf tournament has been rescheduled for July:

    • April 15:

    • Mayor Ginther is working with public officials and Gov. DeWine on a plan for economic recovery in Columbus after the coronavirus pandemic. He stated that the process can’t be rushed, stating “The last thing that we wanna have happen is have such great success in slowing the spread, not overwhelming our health systems, and not losing more of our neighbors to this deadly virus, to have a resurgence come back in the summer because we rushed back into it.”
    • Although protestors continue to call for the state to re-open, Gov. DeWine continued to emphasize the importance of not rushing the process.

    April 14

    • To protect first responders, Dr. Amy Acton announced a new order that requires local health departments to provide to their jurisdictions’ dispatch agency or agencies the names and addresses of COVID-19-positive individuals. By knowing in advance if they will be interacting with someone who has tested positive, first responders will be better prepared when they arrive at a scene with appropriate protective gear. 

    • The Columbus Convention center has been transformed into a 1,000-bed field hospital to treat COVID-19 patients should the need arise.
    • The Ohio Office of Small Business Relief has provided aid to 1,300 businesses in the state so far. For help, businesses can visit coronavirus.ohio.gov/businesshelp.
    • Although people are growing restless with the stay-at-home order, Gov. DeWine continued to stress the importance of social distancing in the fight against coronavirus.

    April 13

    • Nursing homes will now have to notify residents and family members within 24 hours of a positive test among staff or residents, a requirement that incredibly did not exist previously.
    • A $5 million block grant from TANF has been issued by the state to support foodbanks, and efforts to combat homelessness:

    • Dr. Acton states masks may need to be used for the next year:

    • President Trump has said this week that only the federal government can make the decision on when to reopen business in individual states, which is an interesting constitutional interpretation. Mike DeWine sidestepped Trump’s Tweets (as he normally does):

    • COTA is now requiring customers wear masks. They are also asking people to limit riding to essential travel only. More on the policy change here.
    • The Columbus Library system has furloughed 609 part-time and full-time employees. They employed 846 people in total.
    • The New York Times has a fascinating in-depth look at Battelle’s mask sanitizing machine.
    • ODOT has a new food truck permit available that will allow food trucks to serve at rest stops for workers in the trucking industry.

    April 9:

    • There were many cancellations and postponements this week, including Comfest (not definitively postponed or canceled as of yet), Pride (moved to October 3rd), and Origins (moved to October).
    • Governor DeWine seems to understand that some people are getting antsy (there were protests today at the statehouse) and promised today that a “fairly sophisticated” plan is being made and will be shared in the next week on the process for reopening the state:

    • Wifi hotspots around the state have been upgraded and locations can be found on Ohio’s coronavirus portal. Wifi can stil be accessed in the parking lots of libraries, even though they are closed.
    • Unemployment numbers have become a grim weekly milestone. This week it’s 226,007 unemployment filings in Ohio, along with 6.6 million nationwide. We’re now up to nearly 700,000 filings in Ohio and more than 17 million nationally in just the last three weeks.

    April 8:

    • While initial projections were seeing Ohio with nearly 10,000 cases per day at peak, efforts to flatten the curve have paid off. The latest projections show a peak of 1,600 new cases per day at peak. “You have squashed this and you have stretched it,” Acton said, pointing to the blue curve — a projection of Ohio’s peak with mitigation efforts. “Honestly, this is you. This is what you have done. This is how you have saved lives.”

    • In Ohio, outdoor activity is still allowed during the Stay-At-Home order. But it’s important to remember that social distancing still applies, even when outside.

    April 7:

    • Gov. DeWine is planning to ask for the early release of 141 inmates under Ohio’s “Overcrowding Emergency” statute in order to help reduce and stop the spread of the novel coronavirus among the state’s prison population.

    • The Ohio Liquor Control Commission passed an emergency rule to allow establishments with an existing liquor permit to sell and deliver alcohol, including high-proof liquor in limited quantity.

    April 6:

    • At midnight, the new stay-at-home order officially goes into effect. It requires some changes, such as retailers limiting the number of people in stores at one time, self-quarantine instructions for those returning from outside of Ohio, the prohibition of organized youth and adult sports, and more. You can view the full order here.
    • Kroger and Giant Eagle have joined other stores in following Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s order to limit the number of customers shopping in retail stores at a given time to stop the spread of COVID-19. Both stores will limit customers to 50% of the building capacity at any time.
    • Now that masks are being encouraged for everyone going out in public, it’s important to know how to properly wear and take care of your own personal protective gear. Joseph Gastaldo M.D. of infectious diseases for OhioHealth breaks down the dos and don’ts of wearing masks and gloves here.

    April 5:

    • The Ohio Department of Health is asking for urgent blood donations. For more info about donating, visit Redcross.org.

    April 4:

    • The CDC now recommends that all Americans wear a cloth face covering when going out in public.

    • Governor DeWine signed an order expanding telemedicine options for healthcare providers to include mental health services, saying “Mental health is just as important as physical health, and in this time of social distancing and stay at home orders, we are trying to ensure that those who need services can access them without leaving their homes.”

    April 3:

    April 2:

    • Comfest has made the decision to not have their festival in June, leaving open the possibilty of rescheduling:

    • The stay-at-home order has been extended to May 1st:

    • People traveling to Ohio are now being asked to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival:

    • Ohio jobless claims are up to 468,414 in the last two weeks, more than the entire year of 2019.
    • The Columbus Arts Festival has been canceled for 2020:

    April 1:

    • Dr. Acton attempts to manage people’s expectations:

    • Dr. Amy Acton has signed an order banning hospitals from sending tests to private labs, in an effort to avoid the situation in California that has seen tens of thousands of tests pile up while private labs like LabCorp and Quest continue accepting tests beyond their output capabilities.
    • Ohio State has announced that all summer courses will be held online:

    March 31:

    March 30:

    • Last night, the FDA finally granted Battelle approval to use their new decontamination system with no limitation. The Critical Care Decontamination System is the first of its kind, capable of cleaning up to 80,000 pieces of PPE (personal protective equipment) at a time.
    • Battelle and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have jointly developed a new diagnostic test for COVID-19. The new rapid test will allow for a faster turnaround on results, as early as five hours.
    • Gov. DeWine has announced that Ohio schools will remain closed until at least May 1st.
    • The White House indicated that the federal social distancing guidelines will remain in place until at least April 30.

    March 29:

    • Governor DeWine has reached out to the White House for assistance in getting Battelle’s new mask sterilization system fully approved and implemented. The system was approved by the FDA to sterilize 10,000, which is much lower than it’s capable of. The Critical Care Decontamination System can clean up to 80,000 items per day and masks can be cleaned up to 20 times.
    • A total of 8 Columbus Firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19. Columbus Division of Fire Battalion Chief Steve Martin says six of the firefighters who have tested positive are currently recovering at home. Two of the firefighters are back at work after no longer being considered contagious.
    • The Central Ohio Hospital Council has announced that the Greater Columbus Convention Center will be used as a surge location during the response to the coronavirus pandemic. The council said the site will be used in the event there is a surge of patients needing treatment at local hospitals.

    March 27:

    • Dr. Amy Acton now predicts that Ohio could see up to 10,000 new cases of coronavirus per day at the disease’s peak, which is now predicted for mid-May.“As you can see, we have a long way to go,” DeWine said today at the daily press conference. “And that’s the stark reality.”
    • The state of Ohio is launching a new campaign to help support local restaurants, shops, and other activities. Thus far, 250 businesses are included in the campaign and more are expected to join. You can get more information on the Support Local Ohio

      • website.

    March 26:

    • Ohio has passed a relief bill, and Governor DeWine has said he will sign it. More info on the bill can be found here at WOSU.
    • A new Ohio website for coronavirus news, updates, and resources has launched, and you can view it here.
    • Anyone who has masks, gloves, or any other personal protective equipment is asked to email together@governor.ohio.gov.
    • 187,784 Ohioans filed for unemployment last week. Nationally, 3.28 million filed, shattering the old record of 695k, set in 1982.
    • Voting for the Ohio Primary Election has been extended through the end of April. Nearly all votes will be through the mail, so if you haven’t voted yet, please request your absentee ballot as soon as possible.

    March 25:

    • The White House and Senate leaders struck an early-morning agreement on a $2 trillion measure to aid workers, businesses and a health care system strained by the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak. The relief package was approved by the Senate in a 96-0 vote late Wednesday night.
    • Ohio now more than 700 cases, 116 of which are health care workers. Due to a lack of available tests, the state is limiting testing to those who are hospitalized and to health care workers. People with suspected symptoms should call a medical provider first, but seek immediate help if symptoms are serious, such as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.

    March 24:

    • Dr. Amy Acton says Ohio is at 60% capacity in our hospitals and ICU capacity will need to be increased by 50%, possibly necessitating the use of dorms or hotels to provide excess capacity. Ohio currently has 3,600 ICU beds.
    • Governor DeWine says the peak for coronavirus in Ohio won’t happen until at least May 1st or later.
    • Governor DeWine emphasized the importance of prioritizing slowing the spread of coronavirus over re-opening businesses, a stark contrast from remarks by President Trump made earlier about wanting people to return to work. It’s clear that the priority in Ohio remains keeping people safe.

    March 23:

    • GCAC is hoping to raise $100,000 to help Franklin County artists meet basic needs. More here.
    • Governor DeWine is emphasizing that the stay-at-home order does need to be followed. The state is not looking to arrest or cite people, but enforcement will happen if needed:

    • COTA has made many changes to lines and frequency of service. Fares have still been suspended and people are being asked to avoid non-essential travel. More on the changes here.
    • ODNR has announced that campgrounds, cabins, golf courses, restrooms, shower houses, playgrounds, and state park marinas at all ODNR properties will close Tuesday, March 24 to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. Outdoor spaces will remain open.

    March 22:

    March 21:

    • Governor DeWine is pleading with Ohioans to do all they can to stop this disease, saying he has received messages from all over the state saying people are treating this like any other Saturday morning, and further saying “So I ask all of you, before you go to bed, I ask you to ask your self have you done everything you could do to stop this from going from one person to another” Dr. Acton reinforced this message:

    • The state has now had 3 deaths, and multiple other deaths are under investigation according to Dr. Acton.

    March 20:

    March 19:

    • After trying to make carryout-only work for a few days, Cameron Mitchell has closed all restaurants and laid off thousands of staff.
    • Governor DeWine has activated 300 National Guard members to assist food banks and deliver food.

    • COTA has suspended bus fares for all customers. Riders are asked to enter buses from the rear.
    • 111,055 unemployment claims were filed in Ohio Sunday through Wednesday.

    March 18:

    • The city of Columbus has declared a state of emergency. You can view the video announcement from Mayor Ginther here. It sounds as if this declaration will enable the city to move more quickly purchasing needed supplies by temporarily suspending city purchasing requirements.
    • The age range of COVID-19 cases in Ohio is now 2-91.
    • The Ohio National Guard will be used to help foodbanks and to help hospitals put up tents for patient care. Rumors are circulating concerning Ohio National Guard, and DeWine says they are not being called up, and if they are we will know about it and it will be to help.
    • Barbershops, hair salons, nail salons, tattoo shops will be ordered by the state to close by the end of the day.
    • 181 BMV locations will be closed. License renewals will have a grace period, once legislation is passed. The state will ask law enforcement to not issue citations for an expired license due to BMV closure.
    • Libraries will not be ordered to close – local communities will make that decision, but the state asks libraries to deliver services in ways that maintain social distancing.

    March 17:

    • Quick hits from Governor DeWine’s daily press conference: Ohio Department of Health will be issuing an order to postpone elective and non-essential surgeries to ensure hospital beds and medical equipment will be available for the outbreak. Ohio’s hospitals are currently at 75% capacity and plans are being made to use nursing homes, hotels, closed hospitals, and critical access hospitals to handle the overflow. Ohio has received its allotment of medical supplies from the national emergency supply, but donations or latex gloves and masks are still encouraged.
    • The Columbus Department of Public Health has announced the second coronavirus case in Columbus, a 23-year-old woman with underlying health conditions who is being treated at a local hospital. She has not traveled and it’s believed this is community spread.
    • The Ohio State University and Capital University have announced the cancellation of May commencement ceremonies, as they are unable to comply with restrictions limiting sizes of gatherings.
    • Ohio’s Roman Catholic bishops have suspended all publicly celebrated Masses through Easter on April 12.
    • The Columbus Foundation and United Way of Central Ohio have set up emergency-response funds to help local charities during the coronavirus outbreak.

    March 16:

    • Columbus City Council has voted to approve $1 million in food and rent assistance to Columbus residents affected by coronavirus.
    • Ohio’s primary has been delayed.
    • Takeaway from Governor DeWine’s daily press conference: Fitness centers, bowling alleys, public recreation centers, movie theaters, water & trampoline parks are all ordered to close at the end of the day. Gatherings of more than 50 are now prohibited.
    • Franklin County Municipal Court is functioning, but hearings are being rescheduled and evictions and small claims court cases will be paused for three weeks.

    March 15:

    • Governor DeWine has announced the state will be issuing an order to close all bars and restaurants. The closures will begin tonight at 9 PM. Takeout and delivery will still be allowed. Employees will be able to file for unemployment.
    • A Columbus firefighter has tested positive for coronavirus. He works at Firestation 24 serving Northland, and all other firefighters at the station are being evaluated.
    • Columbus Zoo will close beginning Monday.
    • Governor DeWine has shared that Ohio officials are looking at closing bars and restaurants. He also said that “odds are” schools will be closed “a lot longer” than three weeks.
    • Giant Eagle and Kroger will be limiting their hours to 7 AM – 10 PM until further notice, to help with stocking and deep cleaning. 24-hour Wal-Mart locations are changing to 6 AM – 11 PM.

    March 14

    • It has been announced that a Columbus resident has tested positive for coronavirus, the first in central Ohio. The 49-year-old returned recently from a Carnival cruise via New Orleans on March 5th, after traveling to Cozumel and the Yucatan. He began displaying symptoms on March 7th.

    March 13

    • AEP is suspending power shut-offs for non-payment during the outbreak. View their announcement here.
    • Columbus City Schools will be offering free lunch and breakfast to students and children who are under-18 while schools are closed. View the locations offering this service on this map.
    • Daycares are not being closed by the state, but Governor DeWine is recommending removing children if able, and making plans in the event they will need to be closed.
    • Governor DeWine’s daily press conference brings news that prison and jail visitation is being suspended, waivers from the federal government are being sought so that schools can continue offering free lunch and breakfast to children who need those services, and regulatory health industry relief is being requested from the federal government to ensure Ohio’s ability to stockpile health care equipment, limit person-to-person contact, and ensure hospitals are adequately staffed. You can view the press conference here.
    • The Columbus Museum of Art has joined COSI and Franklin Park Conservatory in closing for the next three weeks. More here.
    • Mayor Ginther has given a press conferenced and announced that Columbus city rec centers will close through April 3. Water and power shutoffs will be suspended through April 15th.
    • Columbus Metropolitan Libraries will close effective 6 PM today through April 6th. Digital library resources will remain available.

    March 12

    March 11

    • The Columbus Metropolitan Library remains open but has canceled all classes, programs, meetings, and events.
    • The 2020 Ohio State spring football game has been canceled.
    • Upcoming Columbus Blue Jackets home games will be played without spectators. Refunds to ticket holders will be offered. (UPDATE: The NHL season has now been postponed.)
    • Mike DeWine announced new state rules, including limitations on nursing home visits (one per day per resident), and rules to limit mass gatherings. Further details on rules limiting mass gatherings are expected Thursday, March 12.
    • The mayor of Cincinnati has declared a state of emergency.
    • Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown has put forth a proposal that would require all employers to provide 7 days of paid sick leave and 14 additional days in case of a health emergency, but Senate Republicans have blocked his bill.
    • Concerts and smaller events have begun to see cancellations. We have seen this in Columbus with cancellations from Zac Brown Band, the Dublin pedestrian bridge opening being postponed, and more.

    Ohio COVID-19 Resources

    • The state Department of Health is maintaining a webpage with up to date statistics and resources. You can find it here.
    • Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center has also created a hub page for information, which you can find here.
    • Ohio Department of Health is running a coronavirus hotline number, which you can reach at 833-427-5634 or 833-4-ASK ODH
    • The Columbus Dispatch has turned off their paywall for coronavirus coverage. You can view their coverage here.
    • This page details COVID-19 relief programs in Ohio.

    What can you do to help?

    First of all, ask yourself “How would you alter your behavior if someone you loved or lived with was at high risk of becoming seriously sick or dying? What if you behaved that way, even if you don’t love or live with someone in that position?”

    If you are not in a high-risk population (and given the demographics of our readers, it’s likely most reading this won’t be), you can do the most good by practicing social distancing whenever able. This means wearing a mask when appropriate, working from home, avoiding unnecessary trips, and absolutely, positively staying home if you feel sick.

    The post Everything You Need To Know About Coronavirus In Columbus appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

    ]]> Life As We Know It: Drag In The Middle Of A Pandemic https://www.columbusnavigator.com/columbus-drag-performers-pandemic/ Tue, 07 Apr 2020 04:50:19 +0000 https://www.columbusnavigator.com/?p=43798 The show must go on.

    The post Life As We Know It: Drag In The Middle Of A Pandemic appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

    ]]>     Columbus is a very LGBTQ friendly city, boasting twelve gay bars, and countless more LGBTQ friendly spaces.

    We even have our own superstar. Nina West calls Columbus her home — performing at Union and Axis, and eventually becoming a worldwide sensation on VH1’s Rupaul’s Drag Race. Drag is a robust part of Columbus’s nightlife. So much so that there is some form of drag show or performance nearly every night somewhere in Columbus.

    Thus, there are a lot of local entertainers that perform in numerous spaces all across Columbus, and they’ve been affected by the effective lockdown and closure of bars and nightclubs.

    For many of them, drag can be a steady source of income — via booking fees and tips. With the shutdown, many are out of work, and not just from their day jobs. The bars where they perform are closed to patrons for the foreseeable future. And so, many are turning to alternative ways to entertain their fans and make money to pay their bills.

    Enter drag performer Clinica Deprecious.

    Clinica is a drag performer in Columbus, having performed at several spaces across Columbus. At first, the Governor limited gatherings to 100 people, and performers adapted, but braced for the worse. Then a couple of days later, all bars and night clubs were ordered to close.

    In the spirit of drag making the most out of absolutely nothing, Clinica and their friends decided to create a whole new type of drag. They’d do an online live stream where they’d do drag performances and interact with their fans. Fans would tip via apps like Venmo, PayPal, or Cashapp. It was called “the Quarantine Team”.

    “I jokingly made a post on Facebook about performing in my own apartment for tips a day or so after venues in Ohio started being restricted to 100 people,” said Clinica. “A friend immediately messaged me and said ‘you need to actually do this.’”

    And thus, on March 17th, Clinica, along with drag performers Robyn DaCulyre, Fish Patty, and Riley Poppyseed went online and gave a show.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-I-AnTJXmD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Clinica is thankful that they’ve already paid their immediate bills, but they also know that things have the potential to get worse in the coming weeks. This show is not only a way to make money, but also a release and a way to focus on the art of drag and entertaining people. For many, when the bars closed, it felt like a light had gone out on so many special people in Columbus. Many felt scared and uncertain of the future of drag, or themselves.

    When the bars and clubs were shut down “indefinitely” many were upset — drag queen Anisa Love took to Facebook to share her anxiety and frustration that her Sunday “Church” show had been canceled, putting her, and many others in a more precarious financial state, as well as anxiety over the risks COVID-19 might pose to everyone’s health.

    For many in the Columbus drag scene, continuing to perform drag is a way to stay optimistic.
    Clinica says “Nowadays, it’s way too easy to fall into a dark mind space, especially since drag gives so many of us that fire to push forward in life. That’s why it’s so important to keep the scene alive in absolutely any way whatsoever.”

    Clinica and drag king Riley Poppyseed plan to continue these performances regularly until the restrictions on bars and clubs end.

    They aren’t the only one who has decided to take their talents online. Many other performers are doing the same thing.

    Activist drag queen Selena T West has a “Drag Queen Story Time” she’s doing regularly. Anisa Love is in the process of formulating a show of some sort possibly complete with dancers to entertain her loyal fans that come out Sunday. Drag Queen Krystal Something Something did a comedic makeup tutorial. Bea Brat did an alternative drag performance on Instagram Live. Show host Brent Fabian has been constantly making entertaining videos with either jokes or singing.

    Comedienne Bianca Moore has also been sharing entertaining stories on Facebook live Nina and Virginia West threw on a live stream show at an empty Axis nightclub and used the proceeds to pay multiple local entertainers.

    There are countless other drag performers and others who are trying their best to adapt to what will be a mentally and financially trying few weeks.

    Clinica admits that there may have been a few technical difficulties, as, for the most part, this is a new concept for everyone. The first show had a couple of glitches as they got into their groove about how to interact with the audience, how to move in front of the camera, or even basic issues with sound. However, when it worked, the magic flowed. The performers — Fish Patty, Robyn DaCultyre, Riley Poppyseed, and Clinica Deprecious gave a nearly two-hour show, complete with dance numbers, witty banter between the guests and performers, and multiple costume changes and looks. Their performances online were just as expressive and offered the same level of energy, effort, and thoughtfulness that an in-person routine would have given.

    Despite all of the scary news, people will find novel ways to spread joy and entertainment. It’s amazing how people will still flourish in times of hardship.

    The post Life As We Know It: Drag In The Middle Of A Pandemic appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

    ]]>         Life As We Know It: Here’s What It’s Like Being An Inmate In Ohio During A Pandemic https://www.columbusnavigator.com/prison-inmates-ohio-pandemic/ Thu, 02 Apr 2020 04:20:45 +0000 https://www.columbusnavigator.com/?p=43652 The coronavirus pandemic from an inmate's perspective.

    The post Life As We Know It: Here’s What It’s Like Being An Inmate In Ohio During A Pandemic appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

    ]]>     By Piet van Lier
    The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that every Ohioan – whether they live at home or are being held behind bars – must be protected and cared for. Not only is it the right thing to do, it’s the best way to keep everyone safe.

    Policy Matters Ohio released a statement two weeks ago urging state officials to include incarcerated Ohioans in their response to COVID-19. Not long after that, I received a letter from a man being held in a state prison.

    We verified that this person – whose identity we are protecting at his request – is incarcerated at North Central Correctional Institute in Marion. We have not been able to confirm other details, such as his health condition and the condition of his father-in-law.

    In his press conference today, Gov. Mike DeWine indicated he would issue a new order for the prison system. It is critical that the order quickly begin to reduce the number of people being held in Ohio prisons, both to keep them safe and to open up space to help protect those who remain incarcerated.

    Last week, Policy Matters joined the ACLU of Ohio and other groups to urge Gov. DeWine to immediately order the reduction of state and local incarcerated populations, noting specific legal methods that could be used. We called for the safe reduction of Ohio’s incarcerated population focused on releasing those with a lower risk of recidivism and those with a higher risk of infection.

    We have edited the letter from North Central for clarity, but included an image of the original below. I called the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections asking for comment, but did not hear back on time for our deadline.

    To the Governor of Ohio:

    My name is [redacted]. I am at North Central prison in Marion Ohio. I have like 4 months left. I have asthma. This virus that is going around can kill people like me. I have 2 kids and a wife and I know there are other guys in here that have not done things that bad that we all could be put on house arrest or probation for the remainder of our time. My father-in-law is dying because of this virus and that is not good. We are in groups of 210 could be more and we sleep next to one and other. We eat off the same plates and forks. All it will take is one of us to get this and the whole prison will have it. Like I said I only have 4 months left. I am just asking you to think about us and our well-being. If one person gits this then there will be hundreds to git it and may even die.

    Thank you for your time

    Name Redacted

    Please make your voice heard. Tell Gov. DeWine that protecting Ohio means keeping all of us safe – including those who are paying their debt to society in prison.

    You can view the full letter below.

    This story was originally published by Police Matters Ohio on March 31, 2020 under the headline, Voices of COVID-19: A letter from the inside.

    The post Life As We Know It: Here’s What It’s Like Being An Inmate In Ohio During A Pandemic appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

    ]]>         Life As We Know It: Rideshare Driving In A Time Of Pandemic https://www.columbusnavigator.com/rideshare-driver-coronavirus/ Tue, 17 Mar 2020 05:13:28 +0000 https://www.columbusnavigator.com/?p=43104 Here's what life is like right now for one rideshare driver in Columbus.

    The post Life As We Know It: Rideshare Driving In A Time Of Pandemic appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

    ]]>     It’s hell out there for a lot of us. Including me, as a rideshare driver.

    Ohio, Michigan, California, and many other states have closed bars, restaurants, and many other “non-essential” businesses. Many retail and service industry employees are in a state of shock and panic.

    I almost feel selfish writing about this right now, but the experience of myself and other Lyft and Uber drivers is important right now. How is Covid-19, or Coronavirus affecting Lyft and Uber?

    In short, it’s bad.

    About three weeks ago, I did get some information from Lyft and Uber about the Covid-19 crisis, as it started building tension in Western Europe, and a little bit in the Pacific North West.
    The recommendations were pretty basic and were essentially what the CDC told (and continues to tell) people. Wash your hands, try and keep hard surfaces clean, don’t work if you feel ill.

    Covid 19’s impact is a moving target. This past Friday and Saturday, I was shocked at how strong the demand was. I had one of the best Saturdays I had in a long time, not many people out at the bars, but enough to keep consistent ride demand on my end. I did a lot of runs taking people to and from the grocery store, as they tried in vain to get basic items like toilet paper.

    I tried to keep my car exceptionally clean and disinfected — although hand sanitizer and bleach are pretty scarce at stores right now, I happened to have a nearly-full canister of sanitizing wipes in my kitchen cabinet. I’ve been using them to wipe down the seats, door handles, seatbelt buckles, and other surfaces in my car.

    Then Mike DeWine shut down all bars and restaurants the next day. Most of my rides come from shuttling people to and from nightlife spaces. A day later, gyms, movie theaters, and most everything else closed. Those rides are out.

    Everyone else who can work from home is mandated to work from home. Very few rides to and from work. No one is flying anywhere, as suggested by the WHO and the CDC. I’ve never seen the Lyft/Uber airport queue so empty.

    Demand is dead for rideshare.

    No one is going anywhere, aside from the handful of people in retail, grocery stores, or other workplaces where they can’t work from home.
    The State Of Ohio has expanded unemployment for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    However, I am an independent contractor, so I do not qualify for those benefits. I am on my own for this pandemic.

    It is scary. As of right now, there is no moratorium on my bills, not my rent, not my car note, nor my insurance. Those bills are still due. And I have virtually no income. I have spent the last few days trying to stay calm. Trying to get as many writing jobs done, and do other work to get paid.

    I wonder, should I risk going out and trying to drive for Lyft and Uber?

    The tips have been mediocre when I drove Friday and Saturday before all bars and restaurants got closed. Although I am healthy and COVID-19 generally has mild symptoms for people like me, should I risk my health unnecessarily for money? Should I put myself and my roommates at risk for a job that probably still won’t pay my bills? I don’t know.

    I have heard that services like DoorDash, Instacart, Shipt, and Uber Eats have seen a spike in popularity, but once again — I don’t know if the risks to my health worth it. I don’t know what the payment outlook is like for those services. As more and more people find themselves without work, there’s a very real possibility that the number of delivery drivers for these services will be overcrowded. No use trying to vie for orders that aren’t there. Not to mention, does that help slow the spread of COVID-19? Many sources are encouraging people to stay home as much as possible for the near future.

    There’s talk of a few safety nets to be put in place in the near future.

    Lyft and Uber both have a “coronavirus fund” that will pay drivers up to two weeks’ pay, but you’d have to be quarantined by the government or a medical professional. That would likely mean that you’d need to test positive for COVID-19. The US has barely tested 11,000 people. Self quarantines don’t count. No one knows how much money is in that fund account; if COVID-19 does take hold as intensely as some predict, that unknown amount of cash could run out very quickly.

    The City of Columbus has also created a hardship fund but, I don’t live in Columbus — I live in a suburb, so I don’t qualify. Also, the fund is too small, Columbus city council is adamant that it will quickly run out.

    Even those who do qualify for the expanded unemployment have been facing hard times trying to apply for it — the website has crashed from the sheer volume of so many people applying at once.
    I am taking it one day at a time. I’ve been distracting myself with funny YouTube videos. And I might try and source some hand sanitizer and a mask, and give Lyft, Uber, Instacart, and Uber Eats a college try this week. I, like many other Americans, do not know what the next weeks will look like for us. There is talk there might be an emergency cash stimulus of some sort in the next few weeks. We will see.

    Right now, I’m going to sip my wine and try and not panic. I’m hoping for the best for Ohio, America, and the World as a whole.

    The post Life As We Know It: Rideshare Driving In A Time Of Pandemic appeared first on Columbus Navigator.

    ]]>