CLEVELAND, Ohio- Ohio Gov Mike DeWine is prohibiting the sale of liquor in six of Ohio's 88 counties to out-of state buyers and only to in-state buyers who display a valid Ohio driver's license, aggressive action taken by the governor in response to the coronavirus outbreak and what he says are reports of  an influx of buyers from Pennsylvania to Ohio, both states with a stay-at-home order that if violated in Ohio is a second degree misdemeanor punishable with a fine of up to $750, and up to 90 days in jail.

Those impacted counties are not the state's largest counties of Franklin County, which includes the capital city of Columbus, the state's largest city in front of Cleveland, or Cuyahoga County, where Cleveland is located.

They are instead the counties of Columbiana, Jefferson, Belmont, Trumbull, Mahoning and Astabula, all which border Pennsylvania where its governor has ordered the closings of all state liquor stores be closed while the coronavirus break is pending, several alcohol patrons from Pennsylvania fleeing to neighboring Ohio to stock up on liquor and other alcoholic beverages.

A former U.S senator and Ohio attorney general, Gov DeWine said that in different times outsiders are welcome to Ohio but for now, and during a pandemic at its peak, "those who are coming in to buy liquor are creating a health hazard and that’s something we have to take action on."

The governor said that in different times outsiders are welcome but for now, and during a pandemic at its peak, "those who are coming in to buy liquor are creating a health hazard and that’s something we have to take action on."

The governor's restrictions come at a time when liquor sales have increased in Ohio and nationwide relative to the cornavirus outbreak.

According to data from the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control, more than 1,450,000 gallons of liquor were sold in March, a 26% increase from February.

On the national level, and according to market research by the Nielsen firm, liquor sales are up 55% across the country and beer has seen a 66% jump, wine sales increasing 42 percent in comparison to this time last year.

Ohio has reported more than 6,000 confirmed cases and 247 deaths.

The deadly flu-type virus for which there is no vaccine has spread to all 50 states and Washington, D.C. and the nation has nearly 577,729 reported cases and some 23,115 people dead,  worldwide figures showing that there are 1.9 million cases globally and roughly 118,546 deaths.

Unemployment claims have arisen to an all-time high at nearly 22 million. over a period of weeks.

Public health officials and governors in 43 states and Washington, D.C. have put out stay-at-home orders requiring that people remain at home except for essential such as food, healthcare, an essential job, and taking care of a loved one, Midwestern and southern states , namely Arkansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, Iowa and Nebraska, refusing to bow to pressure and issue such orders.