• Requires employees to wear face covering on job
• Encourages customers to wear face covering as respect to others
• Expects written justification if employees are not wearing

The State of Ohio has mandated employees to wear face covering when on their job to protect customers and others from contracting coronavirus as more businesses prepare to open in May 2020.

Lt. Governor Jon Husted said at the daily briefing on Wednesday that, “you have a governor who listens. When we put the business group together, there were 20 of them who were unanimous that face coverings should be required for employees and customers. But then, we learned that others found these policies impractical.”

“So, we’ve worked to clarify,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted.

Precautionary details moving forward in the state include:

“If you are a customer in an Ohio business, you should wear a face covering, but you aren’t required. You should wear it to protect others. It’s about mutual respect.”

“Face coverings are required for employees when you are on the job. Exceptions for employers and employees include when:

• An employee in a particular position is prohibited by a law or regulation from wearing a face covering while on the job.
• Wearing a face covering on the job is against documented industry best practices.
• Wearing a face covering is not advisable for health purposes.
• If wearing a face covering is a violation of a company’s safety policies.
• An employee is sitting alone in an enclosed workspace.
• There is a practical reason a face covering cannot be worn by an employee.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said, “if any of these exceptions apply to your business or one of your employees, written justification must be provided upon request.”

On Supplemental Security Income, Governor DeWine said, “If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you will get your $1,200 economic impact payment from the IRS automatically — you don’t have to do anything.”

“But if you get SSI, have not filed a tax return, and you have an eligible child, you must act now to get $500 per child in addition to your $1,200 payment. By May 5, go to the IRS’ Non-Filer web form at IRS.gov to give information about your children.”

“If you miss the May 5 deadline, please go to IRS.gov for further information.  And, for information on how Social Security continues to serve the public during this critical time, go to ssa.gov/coronavirus

He said that “Businesses today will be safer from any kind of infectious disease than ever before. There are protocols in place as we open back up that have been thought out, they are significant.”

“The protocols involve social distancing, sanitation, monitoring every employee’s health every day. Never before in the history of this country have we done this with every business