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Northeast Ohio businesses concerned about possibility of another COVID-19 shutdown

“What we do want to do is continue to make money so we can provide for our families."

BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio — Although businesses are back open, there's a lot of uncertainty about the future with the cloud of COVID-19 hanging above Ohio. 

The owners of both Functions of Life Fitness and Performance in Broadview Heights and Urban Kutz Barbershop in Cleveland say business is going well.

While there is good news as the economy opens up, there is also concern.

“My heart was almost about to pop out of my chest when Governor [Mike] DeWine was addressing the people [Wednesday evening,]” explains Urban Kutz Owner Waverly Willis. “I thought he was going to shut us down again."

While that did not happen, Willis is concerned about the possibility if fellow business owners and others don’t follow proper protocols.

“What we do want to do is continue to make money so we can provide for our families,” he explains.

Mike Soster with Functions of Life says he too has some concern. “A shutdown could mean possibly losing about $5,000 a week for us, so as the owner and somebody that has built up this gym over the last 8 years, that's a huge hit,” he says.

We are seeing states like California ordering new business shutdowns. But as of now, University Hospitals' Dr. Keith Armitage doesn't believe it will happen here in Ohio.

"If we don't get worse, I don't see a shutdown unless things really exponentially increase, I don't see a shutdown, let's keep our fingers crossed, wear the masks folks," Dr. Armitage says. 

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