COLUMBUS – More central Ohio cities are adopting rules requiring people to wear masks to fight the spread of the coronavirus and Columbus is issuing a stricter version of its own mandate.
UPDATE: Effective 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered masks mandatory in Franklin and six other counties at Level 3 on the state’s 4-tiered alert system for COVID-19 outbreaks.
Council votes to require face masks. As we continue to grapple with this coronavirus, we have to step up our efforts. This mask mandate is the next phase. It’s time to turn the tide, and if everyone wears masks, we will be successful – @PriscillaTyson #MaskUpCbus pic.twitter.com/rMn1HiyD8K
— Columbus City Council (@ColumbusCouncil) July 7, 2020
Columbus City Council Monday passed an ordinance requiring residents over the age of six to wear facial coverings “in all public spaces, including indoor and outdoor facilities where a six-foot social distancing radius cannot be maintained.”
Central Ohio cities requiring masks:
-Bexley
-Columbus
-Dublin
-Grandview Heights
-Hilliard
-Upper Arlington
-Westerville
Whitehall
-Worthington
Columbus Public Health will enforce the requirement, which was to take effect at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday and superseded an executive order issues last week by Mayor Andrew Ginther.
In some cases, the ordinance is stricter than Ginther’s order. Individuals and business found in violation will receive warnings before civil penalties are assessed.
Individuals will face $25 fines after their first offense and businesses will face fines of $500 for a second violation, and $1,000 after that.
Residents with medical or behavioral conditions, children under six, people actively eating or drinking, strenuously exercising or communicating with someone hearing impaired are exempt from the legislation. So are emergency personnel if it interferes with executing their official duties.
The ordinance also excludes personal vehicles, schools and places of worship but removes Ginther’s exemption for facilities owned by the federal or state government, including the Statehouse where many lawmakers, primarily Republicans, have refused to don masks.
Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Westerville and Worthington joined the growing list of cities that are requiring residents to wear masks in public.
Under the Hilliard order, violators can be charged with a minor misdemeanor and fined up to $150.
Ohio reports 948 more new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 Tuesday for a total of 58,904 with 2,970 deaths.