FACT BRIEF

Have Ohio’s COVID-19 restrictions been exceptionally strict compared to those in other states?

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

By Gus Fisher

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Throughout the pandemic, Ohio’s COVID-19 restrictions have not been considerably more or less strict than other states. Ohio is one of 26 states with mandatory mask rules. It is also one of 12 states that has explicitly prohibited gatherings of more than ten people.

However, Ohio has kept its businesses “mostly open,” according to an analysis by the New York Times. Bars, offices, casinos and other non-essential businesses are currently open in Ohio, with some safety restrictions. By comparison, Hawaii and Vermont, two states with the lowest per-capita cases, have kept at least some of their non-essential businesses closed—including bars.

Only 10 states have prohibited in-person religious gatherings. Ohio is not one of them.

Ohio has the eighth-highest cumulative total of coronavirus infections in the country, and the 36th-highest amount of per-capita cases.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

New York Times Coronavirus restrictions and mask mandates for all 50 states

Forbes State-by-state guide to coronavirus restrictions

AARP List of coronavirus-related restrictions in every state

State of Ohio Responsible RestartOhio: Restaurants, bars, and banquet and catering facilities

Pew Research Most states have religious exemptions to COVID-19 social distancing rules

KFF Cumulative COVID-19 cases and deaths

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