Coronavirus Reason Ohio Needs Paid Family Leave, Politicians Say

© Shutterstock Two politicians argued the threat of the new coronavirus is a reason why Ohio needs mandatory paid family leave.

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — As school districts and cities prepare for a possible outbreak of the new coronavirus, two Ohio politicians are arguing the virus makes a strong case for why the state needs mandatory paid family and medical leave for all workers.

There are currently no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Health said. However, it’s only a matter of time before the new coronavirus spreads to communities across the United States, including Ohio, a top Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official warned Tuesday.

“While the CDC and many Ohio businesses are telling workers to stay home if they get sick, the reality is that for too many Ohioans, this means time off without pay — hurting family budgets and forcing people back into work before it’s safe, which could make a coronavirus outbreak even worse,” said Rep. Janine Boyd, a Democrat from Cleveland Heights.

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Boyd and her colleague, Kristin Boggs, a Democrat from Columbus, introduced House Bill 91 in 2019. The legislative package would establish the Ohio Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program. Federal law provides workers sick leave, but does not guarantee they will receive compensation during their time off. HB 91 would change that in Ohio.

"The threat of a coronavirus outbreak underscores yet another reason why having a paid family leave program is critical,” said Boggs. “We know the risk of a full-blown outbreak increases when people go to work sick, but too many Ohioans can’t take the hit to their paycheck to stay home. Unfortunately, without a paid leave program too many Ohioans will be forced to work and potentially expose their coworkers to illness."

There has been only one hearing for HB 91 and no further hearings are scheduled at this time.

Nationally, health officials are warning Americans about the possible spread of coronavirus. A Washington man died last week from COVID-19, marking the first known death connected to the illness in the United States. A second American died from coronavirus on Sunday.

The virus — which originated in Wuhan, China — has infected at least 83,600 people internationally, and 2,800 people have died, according to the World Health Organization. It is spreading so quickly overseas that infectious disease experts and scientists warn there may be no way to contain it.

Thousands of others across the country are being monitored for the new coronavirus, including 8,400 people in the state of California, and more than 230 people in Massachusetts who may have been exposed to the virus are being monitored and self-quarantined in their homes.