Masks in schools: Is your school district requiring masks? warning for the first violation, a $100 fine for the second violation, and a "There are mask mandates here in Columbus, but I'm still very concerned that the cold and flu season in 2021-2022 will not be as mild as it was last season," said Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts. More education news: Get updates on Columbus schools, Ohio State and more with new education newsletter. At the low level, there is no recommendation for masks. Roberts told The Dispatch in November that there aretwo ways thecurrent mandate could be relaxed in Columbus. That includes: It depends on the venue, and the performer, who can still make their own rules at most venues. Explaining the department's recommendation during a council meeting Monday evening, Roberts said that the omicron variant is mild for most people, especially those who are vaccinated. Columbus to end mask mandate - spectrumnews1.com Natalie Chalet on Twitter: "RT @QasimRashid: Today in Columbus, OH Could mask mandates in central Ohio be lifted? | 10tv.com Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. because of the delta variant and we must do everything we can to protect our community Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. The Columbus Department of Public Health issued an indoor face mask advisory for public places on Friday morning following an increase in COVID-19 cases. Columbus's mask mandate could be lifted soon, officials say The second way the mandate could be dropped is if cases declined significantly. FCPH previously dropped a county-wide mask advisory on Feb. 28. No. The Columbus mask mandate 2022: Where do I still have to mask. The requirement was implemented in September in response to rising cases. With that good news comes a question that is most likely on many minds: Is Columbus close to dropping its mask mandate? is keeping its mask and vaccine requirement, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. warnings and citations for residents and businesses. I think we should be masking for all indoor activities currently, he said. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. The requirement had also applied to Worthington, which is covered by Columbus Public Health. Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced in September that face masks must be worn again indoors, three months after the city's previous mandate was lifted. Columbus City Council voted unanimously Monday to rescind the city's COVID-19 mask mandate, after a city health official confirmed that the risk level to the community continued to drop over the last week. 30 Apr 2023 13:50:15 Vanderhoff said case rates vary substantially from county to county, and he also stressed that high-risk individuals are encouraged to continue wearing masks, even as communities in Ohio ease their guidance. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginthers office said Friday it is evaluating the federal guidance as city officialsconsider liftingthe indoor mask requirement that has been in place since September. There was no letdown in the severity of omicron.. Others have lifted the mandates in schools.. @ColumbusCouncil voted to lift this requirement based on new CDC mask guidelines & public health recommendations. Nick Houser leads the digital media team and oversees all things digital, including wosu.org, columbusneighborhoods.org, digital content, the WOSU Public Media Mobile App, social media, enewsletters, podcasts and on-demand video. If you have an at-risk condition, regardless of your medical status, you should talk to your healthcare provider about recommendations individually for you on mask wearing indoors in public, he said. "I think there's science that can justify either decision they make," she said. council there could be an update on CCS's mask . That city council voted to follow the agency's recommendations Monday like Columbus. At the time the mask mandate was issued, Columbus Public Health recommended that the county's positivity rate needs to be between 5% and 7.99% and the case rate has to be 10-49 per 100,000 in order to move to the yellow level. We have now seemingly passed the peak of the omicron variant, Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler said. The CDC said Friday that it now only recommends universal school masking in communities at the high level. Yes. That applies toCOTA buses and rideshare services, like Uber and Lyft. Indoor mask mandate: When will Columbus lift its mask order? Masks are no longer required in indoor public places in Columbus. [COLUMBUS, OH] In response to the rise of the delta variant of Most Columbus businesses complied with mask mandate, inspection reports show, removed their mask mandates in recent weeks, Get updates on Columbus schools, Ohio State and more with new education newsletter, is keeping its mask and vaccine requirement. While Columbus, Whitehall and Worthington still have mask mandates in effect, Bexley City Councillifted its mask mandateTuesday. Columbus City Council voted unanimously Monday to rescind the city's COVID-19 mask mandate, after a city health official confirmed that the risk level to the community continued to drop. > Parks> Golf> Hiking and Biking Trails> Events> Summer Fun Guide, > Events> Things To Do> Neighborhoods> Hotels> Restaurants> Visitor Maps, > Nicholas J. Bankston> Lourdes Barroso de Padilla > Mitchell J. Masks in schools: Is your school district requiring masks? Wearing a mask and testing if youre sick also will help slow down the spread.. facial coverings in all indoor public spaces. Columbus OH 43215-9015 columbuscitycouncil.org File Number: 2388-2021 . That order is comparable toone imposed in July 2020, covering any indoor building space accessible to the public. "What we have gone through collectively over the last two years has been difficult," Council President Shannon Hardin said. Prior to the last two weeks, the state has not seen more than 20,000 reported new cases in a week in nearly five months. Most Greater Columbus residents dont just solely stay in the city. Athens, Bexley, Gambier, Whitehall and Yellow Springs, among others, also mandate masks. Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse and Grandview Theater and Drafthouse: Mask mandates have ended. Yes. Herbert said Mount Carmel communicates regularly with city officials about its public health recommendations, including its support for masking. Last week, the county health agency rescinded its universal guidance to schools and municipalities to require masks. in ordinance 1643-2020, passed on July 6, 2020, but adds a regular 30-day But mask mandates vary by municipality. As of July 18, the positivity rate in Franklin County is 19.8%. That order is comparable to one imposed in July 2020, covering any indoor building space accessible to the public. The immunocompromised and unvaccinated are still recommended to wear masks in crowded situations, and some areas of the region still require masks. Just with Columbus alone and a few other suburbs having a mask order, I dont know if thats really going to be enough to reduce the number of flu cases in our community, Roberts said. Council. Tags . New CDC map shows Greater Columbus mostly medium COVID risk, masks may A spokesperson for the city of Columbus told 10TV Franklin County is still in the CDCs red category for high community transmission. Right now, that positivity rate sits at 14 percent. If you have a disability and experience difficulty accessing this content request an accommodation. Bicyclist injured after being struck by wrong-way driver in downtown Columbus, Police: Father killed, mother critically injured in shooting from north Columbus home invasion, Interested in composting? "While there's no doubt we are quickly moving in the right direction, it's simply too early for us to declare victory given the reality that thousands of Ohioans are still being diagnosed with COVID-19 each and every day," said Vanderhoff. Columbus mask mandate is over: What to know about mask policies at So bring your mask and card to those venues, which include the Ohio Theatre, Palace Theatre, Southern Theatre, Lincoln Theatre, and the Riffe Centers Davidson Theatre and three studio theaters. Dr. Mark Herbert, infectious disease specialist at Mount Carmel Health in Columbus, said Friday that his advice to city officials is to continue requiring masks. Columbus Public Health. The returning mandate follows the original COVID-19 mask mandate How do I keep bugs off my patio this spring? As we move from a pandemic to endemic, there may be times in the future when mask advisories or mandates could become necessary as new variants come to our community. Ohio reported 2,121 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, a dramatic decline from one month ago. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. The reality is we're in a period of transition. Yes. The major attractions in Columbus have dropped their mask mandates, making them optional. Top US doctor on future of masks, mental health, As the omicron wave of the coronavirus subsides and some U.S. states ease mask mandates, the nation's top doctor says slowly "pulling back" blanket requirements is to be expected, but that policies should still prioritize equity and safety. Do Columbus-area schools still require masks? Columbus City Council confirmed in a statement Monday afternoon that it will hold a vote for lifting the mandate on March 7. COLUMBUS, Ohio The city of Columbus could soon end its mask mandate after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention releasedupdated mask guidanceFriday that opens the door for the city to relax protocols. COVID-19, on Monday, September 13, 2021, Council passed ordinance 2388-2021, Follow her on Twitter @megankhenry. The immunocompromised and unvaccinated are still recommended to wear masks in crowded situations, and some areas of the region still require masks. So the lifting of the requirement will mean thatrestaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores and other businesses will be able to set their own mask policies. That will soon be going away in most indoor spaces. This mask mandate will remain in effect until Mayor Ginther rescinds his vaccinated.. (February 11), COVID-19 transmission rates and hospitalizations, State reports 2,121 new cases Tuesday, adds 367 deaths to total, Columbus airman helps hospital workers during COVID-19, Columbus first responders were promised $1,000; they haven't seen a dime, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. We continue to watch guidance provided by the CDC as well as the cases in our community. I have seen so much pain and suffering and illness from this virus, My concern moving forward is with a de-escalation of the masks of the general public will feel that the virus is gone, it's not gone, he said. In short, while numbers are trending in the right direction, officials say we aren't there yet. @ColumbusCouncil voted to lift this requirement based on new CDC mask guidelines & public health recommendations. Columbus' mask mandates may be lifted soon South-Western ended its requirement today. Drexel Theatre: The theaterwill no longer mandate masks or proof of vaccination. Yes. And Franklin County today we are medium. COLUMBUS, Ohio The mask mandate in Columbus could be lifted soon due to signficant declines in case numbers, officials said Wednesday. He said this is still not the time to throw caution to the wind. WOSU 89.7 NPR News | The mask mandate in Columbus has been in effect since September. The cities of Columbus, Bexley, Whitehall and Worthington all plan to rescind their mask mandates in the coming weeks if trends continue, their leaders stated in a news release yesterday. . The health department said ending the mandate is in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionslatest mask guidance. The ordinance requires residents over the age of three to wear Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Aerosmith coming to Columbus as part of farewell, Bad student behavior rises more since classroom return, How a central Ohio neighborhood is growing by 60, Why May is starting so chilly, and how long itll, Very chilly, blustery and damp start to May, Rounds of rain to start off the week, temperatures, Cool weekend, showers return, chilly start to May, NFL players daughter drowns after falling in pool, Ohio State mens tennis wins 15th Big Ten Tournament, Former Buckeyes Brown and Cage sign with NFL teams, Crew lose to struggling Inter Miami side 2-1, Browns sign former Buckeyes Hickman, McCalister, As Ohio COVID-19 health order ends, Columbus mask mandate remains, Turning point: More nations ease COVID restrictions even as omicron cases soar, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day. The mask requirement in Whitehall was ended Monday. With COVID-19 cases starting to decline, fatigue over mask mandates is starting to grow. The first option is that city council could decide the mandate isno longer needed and removeit, she said. ordinance goes into effect upon signature by the Mayor and will be enforced by Natasha is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and has more than 20 years of television news and radio experience. The COVID crisis is compounding right now, affecting too many According toWBNS-10TV, Worthington's mask requirement will lift Thursday. The major attractions in Columbus have dropped their mask mandates, making them optional.