CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio — Cuyahoga County officials have ordered a stay-at-home advisory to take effect immediately that will last through Dec. 17.
This announcement was made during a joint meeting between the City of Cleveland and the Cuyahoga County Department of Health, lead by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, and Cuyahoga County Executive, Armond Budish.
"We are in the fight of our lives," said Budish during the briefing, "more Ohioans have died of COVID-19 than in the Korean and Vietnam wars put together. And it’s getting worse every day."
This comes as COVID-19 cases in the Buckeye State continue to rise exponentially, and the county has experienced a recent unprecedented surge of hospitalized individuals.
Over the weekend, the county was unable to report recent coronavirus numbers due to an exponential rise in cases.
As of Nov. 13, the positivity rate for COVID-19 testing at county hospital facilities has increased to 15% "and continues to rise rapidly."
The stay-at-home advisory asks all Cuyahoga County residents to stay home and avoid heading out for unnecessary trips. Those who live within the county are strongly advised to not host guests in their home over the next 28 days as well, and also avoid traveling outside of the state.
Churches, banquet facilities and rental halls are also required “to continue to implement all virus transmission prevention protocols and are advised to limit the number of individuals in attendance to ensure safe distancing at all regular services, receptions and events such as weddings or funerals.”
All schools and universities that are currently using a hybrid of full in-person learning plan are advised to transition to online remote classes after Thanksgiving.
Private gatherings -- both indoor and outdoor -- are limited to no more than 10 individuals.
Anyone who experiences symptoms of COVID-19 must isolate for 10 days from the onset of symptoms or the date of testing if no symptoms are present. Those who have come into contact with the Coronavirus should quarantine for 14 days in following the Ohio Department of Health and Center for Disease Control's protocols.
Over the weekend, the county was unable to report recent Coronavirus numbers due to an exponential rise in cases.
"By next week, our Board of Health is projecting that we will be hitting 1000 cases a day if we don’t do something now. At the rate things are going, our hospitals will be overwhelmed," said Budish during the joint briefing.
You can read the full stay-at-home advisory below: