COVID-19 COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE
21-day curfew seeks to slow down spread of COVID-19 in Ohio COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced in mid-November that the Ohio Department of Health will be issuing a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. statewide curfew beginning Thursday, Nov. 19. The curfew will be in effect for 21 days. The curfew will not apply to those traveling to or from work, those who have an emergency, or those who need medical care. The curfew is not intended to stop anyone from getting groceries or going to a pharmacy. Picking up carry-out or a drivethrough meal and ordering for delivery will be permitted, but serving food and drink in person must cease at 10 p.m.
Additional details on the 21-day curfew order are forthcoming. “We’re not shutting down, we’re slowing down,” said DeWine. “The curfew is aimed at helping to reduce the number of person-to-person contacts because the only way virus lives is when it goes from one person to another. We have to flatten this curve again and get this under control.” The decision to impose a 21-day curfew was made with input from the medical and business communities with consideration to the economic and mental health impacts that another shutdown could cause. “This is a balanced approach that will slow
down people coming together and impact the spread of the virus to the point that it can be controlled, and at the same time, not cause a catastrophic effect in the economy,” said Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. “You have to care about both the economy and health – you can't just care about one in isolation. Based on all of the recommendations we considered, a curfew was the most impactful option with the least disruption.” DeWine also encouraged Ohioans to do one thing each day that will decrease the spread of the virus through mask-wearing, social distancing, and limiting the number of daily contacts.
MVHS cancels public events; virtual holiday programs continue
T
he Mahoning Valley Historical Society has canceled its public holiday events, but planned virtual activities will continue. The Tyler History Center has closed temporarily and remain so until further notice. The Arms Family Museum, MVHS’ other facility on Wick Avenue, closed for the holiday season on Nov. 16. Rapidly rising public health concerns regarding COVID-19 in Ohio and the Mahoning Valley prompted the decision. No MVHS staff, guides, or volunteers have been diagnosed with the virus at this time. “It’s increasingly clear that we must minimize the risk of exposure at our facilities for visitors and staff, given the turn of the virus with a new wave of cases and deaths. MVHS has been working hard to safely implement in-person shopping and displays for the holidays but we will now rethink those plans. Our online holiday programming will not change at this time,” said William Lawson, MVHS executive director. MVHS implemented its first facilities closure in March. As the severity of the pandemic lessened over the summer, the Tyler History Center and Arms Family Museum reopened with limited hours. MVHS is enacting this second closure of all its facilities and will keep its members and the public updated. All Tyler History Center rentals have been canceled through at least March 2021. All updates regarding operations and programming will be available through the MVHS website at mahoninghistory.org.
Vaccine prepositioning DeWine also provided details on Ohio’s vaccine prepositioning plan. The Ohio Department of Health has identified 10 sites across the state that will receive the pre-positioned vaccine after a COVID-19 vaccine is given emergencyuse authorization. Once the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices issues its recommendation on how to use the vaccine, these sites will begin administering the vaccine immediately to those who choose to receive it and are identified as able to receive it in the first stage. Ohio will first vaccinate those who are most at risk, including those who work in long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and other congregate-care facilities, high-risk health care workers, and first responders. The 10 pre-positioned sites were selected based on geography, population, and access to ultra-cold storage capacity. Other sites will begin receiving shipments of vaccine following final approval, potentially just days after the pre-positioned sites begin administering the vaccine. DeWine once again encouraged citizens to remain vigilant in practicing safety measures until a vaccine is available. Home and healthy for the holidays
As students at Ohio’s colleges and universities are preparing to head home for the holidays, the Ohio Department of Higher n Holiday Vintage Video Series will Education and Ohio Hospital Association premiere on Tuesdays and Saturdays are launching a new campaign to encourthrough Jan. 2. The Business & Media age students to keep themselves and family Archives of the Mahoning Valley will post members safe while they're at home. a selection of holiday film footage from its The “Home and Healthy for the Holidays” collection on its Facebook page and the campaign will provide tips for students to folMVHS YouTube channel. low before, during, and after holiday travel. n Holiday Time Capsules blog series on The campaign will also share information for MVHS’ website will dive into various holiday students on what they should do if they have traditions and events that occur at the time no access to testing or if they receive a posiof the winter solstice. These will premiere on tive or negative test result. Fridays from Nov. 27 through Jan. 3. College students are encouraged to share how they plan to be safe during the holin 2020 Holiday Windows will be on days by posting to social media using the display at the front entrance of the Tyler hashtags #HomeandHealthyfortheHoliHistory Center. Vintage Mahoning Valley days and #BackOnCampus21. holiday scenes will be free to passersby. For more information, contact Dave n Ohio COVID-19 case data – In-depth case Ragan, communications manager at 330data can be accessed by visiting coronavirus. 743-2589, ext. 122 or email dragan@ ohio.gov. For information on Ohio’s mahoninghistory.org. response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus. ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH. METRO MONTHLY DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 33 MVHS
All updates regarding operations and programming will be available through the MVHS website at mahoninghistory.org.
Virtual holiday programs n Holiday Mahoning Valley artiFACTS will feature seasonal collection items in a special version of the MVHS Facebook series on Mondays and Wednesdays through Dec. 30. n Holiday Bites and Bits of History online video programs will occur on the MVHS YouTube channel at noon on Thursday, Nov. 19 and Thursday, Dec. 17. November’s program, “The Art of the Glassblower,” features the mastery of glassblowing in holiday décor. In December, Cassie Nespor, curator at YSU Melnick Medical Museum, will explore the medical roots of celebratory cocktails in “Cheers to Your Health!” n Holiday Hands On History at-home activities can be downloaded from the MVHS website. The example images and step-by-step instructions for each crafts project will be added every Sunday through Jan. 3.
