Hamilton County is joining others around the state in issuing a stay at home advisory to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
"What I am asking is that people stay at home as much as possible," says Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman. "You're not required to stay at home but you should really think twice about making that trip. In addition, we have a bunch of orders in place from the governor and director of health. ... We are asking you to follow all of those orders, including quarantine and isolation orders, and most importantly, the mask requirement."
Commission President Denise Driehaus points out the new component of this advisory is asking people to limit contact with others.
"You don't know who's got COVID-19," she says. "People are walking around asymptomatic so it's very challenging to know who's infected (and) who's not."
The county notes this is a recommendation only, with no new capacity for enforcement. Driehaus concedes that will upset some people.
"This commission does not have the authority to do anything beyond what we're doing here," she says.
You can read the full advisory below:
Health Advisory by WVXU News on Scribd