Jeff Gokie stands outside Henry on 11th over the summer. The business has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Gokie said. CAROLYN KOMATSOULIS, THE
COLUMBUS TELEGRAM FILE PHOTO
Gov. Pete Ricketts eliminated almost all COVID-19 restrictions on Dec. 24 as statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations fell below 15% of staffed hospital beds.
Numerous local business owners said the changes would not make a big difference, though some said it is possible the loosening of restrictions could bring more people into their establishments.
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations locally and statewide have fallen, but are still above safe levels, according to the East-Central District Health Departmentâs Dec. 18 situation update. It is not clear if that had changed by the end of December.
It has been hard for residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, said officials at The Heritage at Meridian Gardens and Emerald Nursing and Rehab, and the coronavirus vaccine presents unknowns.Â
Emerald Administrator Chelsey Roan and Heritage Senior Living Counselor Rachelle Congdon said they do not know how the COVID-19 vaccine might change visitation. Right now, visitation is shut down at Emerald, 2855 40th Ave., and limited at Heritage, 4515 38th St.
Pictured is Chelsey Roan, the administrator of Emerald Nursing & Rehab. Roan said she is unsure how vaccination will change visitation. COURTESY PHOTO The (Center for Medicaid Services) guidance, which is what we have to adhere by, ⦠(is) if a county positivity rate is over 10%, facilities cannot have families, Roan said. When everything first started we were able to open up to visitation, and we got through maybe a month.