Cincinnati Mayor Cranley orders people to stay six feet apart in public

CINCINNATI (FOX19) - Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley announced a series of executive orders Monday meant to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

First, he ordered people to keep a distance of six feet between them in all public places (parks, sidewalks, other communal areas).

The mayor says this will help maintain social distancing and it will be enforced by police “through suggestion.”

Couples, families, first responders, and people using public transit are exempt from this order, Mayor Cranley said.

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Mayor Cranley signed 4 executive orders related to #COVID19. 1. Order to maintain social distance of 6 ft in all public spaces (parks, sidewalks, other communal areas) to protect people health. This includes in . Exceptions: families, public transit users, first responders, etc.
— City of Cincinnati (@CityOfCincy) March 16, 2020

Daycares will stay open for now, Interim Director of Hamilton County Job and Family Services Timi McCartney said.

Duke Energy will not disconnect customers for non-payments during the coronavirus pandemics, Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus said.

Mayor Cranley also announced that over the next 30 days city council and committee meetings will go on without members of the public.

People are encouraged to watch on CitiCable or online. You can take part in public comment by email: clerkofcouncil@cincinnati-oh.gov

2. For the next 30 days, City Council and committee meetings will occur without members of the public. Residents are encouraged to watch on @CitiCable or online (https://t.co/obCNsCdu0p). IMPORTANT: You can participate in public comment by email: clerkofcouncil@cincinnati-oh.gov.
— City of Cincinnati (@CityOfCincy) March 16, 2020

In addition, city boards and commissions are suspended from meeting for the next 30 days including the planning commission, the CRC board, board of park commissioners, any working group/task force established by the city, etc.

Final order administrative hearings are also suspended for 30 days. All meetings and hearings with the zoning board, parking violations bureau, housing appeals, historic conservation, building appeals, etc. are postponed.