DORA Suspended due to Coronavirus

MIDDLETOWN 

Public Health 

RE: Order for the Temporary Suspension of the City of Middletown's Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area 

I, Jackie Phillips, BSN, MPH, Health Commissioner for the City of Middletown Department of Health, pursuant to the authority granted to Board of Health in R.C. 3709.21 to “make such orders and regulations as are necessary ... for the public health [and] the prevention or restriction of disease," and in order to protect and preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens and businesses of the City of Middletown, and delegated to me by the Board of Health in Ordinance 2019-05 in matters of disease control, ORDER the following: 

1. Effective 5:00 p.m. Friday March 20, 2020, the City of Middletown's Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) shall be temporarily suspended. 

2. Middletown's DORA's hours of operation, typically seven days a week from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., shall be temporarily suspended. 

3. The sale of Middletown DORA bracelets shall be temporarily suspended. 

4. The distribution of Middletown DORA plastic cups shall be temporarily suspended. 

5. This action is taken to protect and preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens and businesses of the City of Middletown. This Order shall remain in full force and effect until the State of Emergency declared by the Governor no longer exists, or the Health Commissioner for the City of Middletown Department of Health or the Middletown Board of Health rescinds or modifies this Order. 

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 a virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes. 

On January 23, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health issued a Director's Journal Entry making COVID-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. Representatives from the Middletown Department of Health participated in that statewide call concerning 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 response to COVID-19. 

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. 

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 28, 2020, the "Governor DeWine, Health Director Update COVID-19 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 5, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health hosted the Governor's Summit on COVID-19 Preparedness, a meeting with the Governor, cabinet agency directors, local health department commissioners, and their staff. Representatives from the Middletown Department of Health attended the Governor's Summit on COVID-19 Preparedness. 

On March 9, 2020, testing by the Ohio Department of Health confirmed that three patients were positive for COVID-19 in the State of Ohio. This confirmed the presence of a potentially dangerous condition which may affect the health, safety, and welfare of citizens of Ohio. 

On March 9, 2020, Governor DeWine declared a State of Emergency in Executive Order 2020-01D. 

On March 11, 2020, the head of the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. 

On March 11, 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 14, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health issued a Director's Order closing all school buildings that provide any kindergarten through grade twelve instruction through April 3, 2020. 

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. 

On March 17, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health issued a Director's Order prohibiting mass gatherings that consist of 50 or more people. In addition, that order recommended that Ohioans avoid unnecessary social gatherings of more than ten people. 

Accordingly, I hereby ORDER, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2020 that the City of Middletown's Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) shall be temporarily suspended. Middletown's DORA's hours of operation, typically seven days a week from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. shall be temporarily suspended. The sale of Middletown DORA bracelets shall be temporarily suspended. The distribution of Middletown DORA plastic cups shall be temporarily suspended. This action is taken to protect and preserve the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens and businesses of the City of Middletown. This Order shall remain in full force and effect until the State of Emergency declared by the Governor no longer exists, or the Health Commissioner for the City of Middletown Department of Health or the Middletown Board of Health rescinds or modifies this Order. 

March 20, 2020 

Jackie Phillips, BSN, MPH Health Commissioner