Coronavirus Crisis

All veterinary medicine activity cleared to resume May 1

Gov. Mike DeWine’s announcement yesterday cleared the way for all veterinary medical procedures to restart this Friday, May 1. This expansion includes elective procedures, all vaccines, and well checks, among other activity related to the animal’s current and future health.

At this juncture, it does not appear this was intended to include grooming services unless there is a correlating medical necessity. The expansion to all veterinary medical activity mirrors the broadening of human medical activity. Because human grooming services are not cleared to resume at this point, the spirit of the directive would suggest the same is true for pets, though the interactions are obviously different. We will provide additional clarity as we receive more information.

Please note that the directive instructs the continuation of minimizing PPE use to the extent possible, stating that “dental services and veterinary services may also proceed if a safe environment can be established.”

Responsible Protocols

The safety protocols all entities are now instructed to follow include:

• Requiring face coverings for all employees and recommending them for clients
• Conducting daily health assessments or self-evaluations of employees (this may include but does not require temperature checks and an assessment/check-in with employees on changes in their health status)
• Maintaining social distancing within the clinic work environment, to the extent possible
• Frequently sanitizing surfaces
• Limiting capacity to meet social distancing guidelines

Veterinary medical professionals are already practicing many of these protocols, and other safety measures implemented during the pandemic—such as keeping clients and animals in vehicles until service can be provided and remote payment—should continue.

We will keep you apprised of new developments as they occur. Please remember, a number of related health and business operational guidance materials can be found on OVMA's coronavirus resources page.