Ohio Stay-At-Home Order: How The Heights Is Enforcing The Mandate

Cleveland Heights OH

26 March, 2020

8:06 AM

Description

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Gov. Mike DeWine issued a statewide stay-at-home order, directing Ohioans to only leave their homes for essential reasons and closing non-essential businesses. The mandate went into effect on Monday night, but what will the order mean for Cleveland Heights residents? There are two groups who have the ability to enforce the stay-at-home order: law enforcement and health departments. DeWine said this week that most enforcement will fall to local police and health departments. "The Cleveland Heights police department can enforce the stay at home order, according to the governor, but at this time we are taking more a persuading and educating approach when possible, and would only arrest if necessary to protect the public," a police department spokesperson told Patch. At this point, if a complaint about a business or individual was received, officers would speak the offending person and remind them how important staying at home and practicing social distancing is to saving lives. The Board of Health The Cuyahoga County Board of Health is collecting complaints about companies ignoring the order and logging the information, according to Kevin Brennan, a communications officer for the board. Officials may dispatch a field agent to talk to a business owner and resolve the complaint. "We're trying to take a measured approach," Brennan told Patch. Anyone who wishes to log a complaint with the county board of health should call their main phone number, 216-201-2000. The phone line will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Complaints can be submitted anonymously through the county website.