Garage Sales, Other Retail Sales, & Mass Gatherings

The Ohio Department of Health Director issued a Director's Second Order to Extend the Expiration Date of Various Orders.  This Order effective July 6, 2020 states that the Director "ordered that the expiration date of various Director of Health Orders be extended as set forth in this order. The Order shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier of the state of Emergency declared by the governor no longer exists, or the Director of the Ohio Department of Health rescinds or modifies this order".   Therefore, Section 2(f) extends the  Director’s Updated and Revised Order for Business Guidance and Social Distancing. 

Mass Gatherings Defined

All public and private gatherings of greater than 10 people occurring outside a single household and connected property, or living unit and connected property are prohibited, except for the limited purposes permitted by Orders of the Director of Health.  This is in accordance with President Trump's coronavirus guidelines issued March 16, 2020. Nothing in this Order prohibits the gathering at a household, family or residence.

  • When people need to leave their places of residence to perform or to otherwise facilitate authorized activities necessary for continuity of social and commercial life, they should at all times and as much as reasonably possible comply with Social Distancing Requirements.
  • This Section does not apply to weddings and funerals, although wedding receptions are subject to the Restaurants, Bars, and Banquet & Catering Guidance and limited to 300 persons.
  • This Section does not apply to religious facilities, entities and groups and religious gatherings. This Section does not apply to First Amendment protected speech, including petition or referendum circulators and any activity by the Media, which includes newspapers, television, radio and other media services.

Garage Sales and Outdoor Retail Sales

Spring and summer are when we see garage sales, yard sales, and other outdoor sales such as consumer actions and agricultural sales & auctions pop up all over Ohio. Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, M.D., MPH, strongly recommends that Ohioans take the following actions when having and/or attending these sales.

  • Practice social distancing by doing the following:
  1. Place posters encouraging social distancing for customers to see upon arrival and while shopping.
  2. Set up tables and chairs within 6 feet apart.
  3. Use heavy-duty tape to form a flow for customers to follow throughout the sale.
  4. Ask customers to stand in a line, while spread apart, during a high traffic times.
  • Clean all tables and chairs several times throughout the day.
  1. Make sure all merchandise is washed and dried and/or wiped down with a disinfectant product before placing on a table or chair for sale.
  2. Wipe down all tables and chairs using disinfectant at the end of the day or in the morning before the next day of the sale starts.
  • Wear masks and disposable gloves at all times during the sale.
     
  • Have hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol on tables and other places for customers to use.

Additional guidance is located in the Responsible ReStartOhio Consumer Retail and Services best practices document. 

For additional information from ODH click here