COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will expand the state’s unemployment insurance system to immediately cover workers who are displaced, even temporarily, by the coronavirus crisis, he announced Sunday.

The state will waive the typical waiting period required to qualify, and also will waive a requirement that people who get jobless benefits seek work. The changes will be made through an executive order from DeWine coming tomorrow.

The emergency measure also will apply to workers who aren’t offered paid leave through work, or who are under quarantine by their job or a health-care professional.

DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, both Republicans, announced the measure shortly after DeWine ordered the immediate closure of the state’s bars and restaurants effective at 9 p.m., with carve-outs allowing for carry-out and delivery. News of the possible bar closings left restaurant owners in Cleveland, asked before the order was announced, told cleveland.com they were concerned about the possible effects on staff.

They said they knew the order and other parts of the state’s sweeping, unprecedented efforts to restrict public life would harm the economy. They said more moves could be coming to help with the financial harm the crisis and the state’s responses will have on companies and workers.

“If we don’t take these actions now it will be too late. This is a matter of life and death,” DeWine said. “We’re very mindful of the economic hurt for individuals who will lose their jobs. Look, this is brutally tough. And my heart goes out to them. But we have to do what we have to do to save their lives. And not just their lives but the lives of others. And our goal is for us to get through this.”

House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, an Akron Democrat, praised the DeWine administration for extending unemployment benefits, which House Democrats requested last Friday. But in a statement, she called on Republican House Speaker Larry Householder to convene the legislature to consider additional steps.

“My Democratic colleagues and I stand ready to return to the statehouse to pass the necessary legislation to bring relief to all hard-working Ohioans as soon as possible,” Sykes said.

State unemployment insurance provides one-half a qualifying worker’s former average weekly pay for up to 20 weeks, with caps depending on how many dependents are in a household. The system is financed through payroll taxes on employers.

Husted said the expanded unemployment is meant to cover what they knew would be economic damage suffered by the bars and restaurants, most of which are small businesses.

“More details will come with time. But in making the announcement that many bars and restaurants will not be open, that means that many employees will not have jobs," he said. “We didn’t want to make that announcement without letting them know you can apply for unemployment and get it immediately."

The state also will apply for a U.S. Small Business Administration program that will make up to $2 million in low-interest loans available to businesses struggling with losses of revenue tied to the coronavirus.

In another measure aimed at helping of setting the harm from the abrupt closures, Husted said the state will offer to refund any unopened liquor purchased by bars, restaurants or non-profits with temporary event permits within the last 30 days.

DeWine said his administration huddled with business groups, including the Ohio Restaurant Association, earlier Sunday to get input on the new changes. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Business Roundtable and the Ohio Manufacturers Association, among the state’s largest business groups, issued statements on Sunday supporting the DeWine administration’s moves.

“As we have seen in other parts of the world, it is critical to take these actions before the virus can spread further," Pat Tiberi, President & CEO of the Ohio Business Roundtable, said in a statement.

The state has set up a Q&A page on the unemployment changes at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ouio/CoronavirusAndUI.stm

For more information on the SBA program, email BusinessHelp@Development.Ohio.Gov

For more information on the liquor refunds, email OhioLiquorInfo@com.ohio.gov or call 877-812-0013

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