COLUMBUS – Governor Mike DeWine has expanded a mask order already in effect for 19 Ohio counties to the remainder of the state to control the spread of the coronavirus.
We're grateful to see Ohio will be joining Columbus in requiring masks when out in public. The science is clear. If we all wear masks, we can significantly reduce the spread of #COVID19 and keep our entire state safe and healthy.
— Mysheika Roberts, MD, MPH (@DrMRoberts) July 22, 2020
The order was announced Wednesday afternoon, after the state Department of Health released data showing the state had experienced its second-highest one-day total of new COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.
DeWine said the mask order was necessary to get the COVID-19 outbreak under control and return life in the state to normal this autumn.
“We all want to see kids go back to school, we want to see sports we want to see a lot of different things. We want to have more opportunities in the fall. To do that, it’s just very important for all Ohioans to wear a mask,” DeWine said.
The new order takes effect at 6:00 p.m. Thursday and requires everyone age 10 and older to wear a face covering in public.
Columbus Recreation and Parks has free masks at several locations
Ohioans will be required to wear masks when indoors, excerpt for residences; outdoors, when unable to maintain six-foot social distance from people who are not household members; when waiting for, riding, driving, or operating public transportation.
Exclusions include those with a medical condition or a disability or those communicating with someone with a disability; those who are actively exercising or playing sports, officiants at religious services those who are actively involved in public safety or actively eating or drinking.
In making the announcement during his regular televised coronavirus briefing from the Statehouse, DeWine acknowledged that, despite the daily increase, preliminary data indicated that, overall, the rate of growth of cases had slowed, though it had not “plateaued” and more counties are seeing an increasing number of cases.
Ohio reported 80,186 total confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 Thursday, an increase of 1,444 from Wednesday, with 3,256 deaths and an increase of 104 in the number of people hospitalized with the disease.
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DeWine also announced a travel advisory for anyone coming into Ohio from nine states reporting positive COVID-19 testing rates of 15 percent or higher, and for Ohioans traveling to those states and returning. Anyone coming to Ohio from one of the following states should self-quarantine for 14 days at home or in a hotel:
Alabama
Arizona
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Mississippi
Nevada
South Carolina
Texas
Ohio’s positivity rate, which is an indicator of the percentage of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, has been around 6.2 percent, DeWine said.
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The City of Columbus is using $7 million in federal funds to provide new Chromebooks to students in the Columbus City Schools. The City received $157 million in May from the CARES Act to provide assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the city will use some of that to make sure every student in the district receives a device.
Columbus City Schools will provide hotspots and reliable internet access so that students are able to use the devices for lessons and online instruction.
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Columbus Metropolitan Library will expand its Curbside Pickup hours of operation starting Tuesday, July 28:
All locations except those noted below:
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: 1-5 p.m.
Canal Winchester and Hilltop Branches:
Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Marion-Franklin Branch:
Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Closed Sunday
South High Branch remains closed for construction.
Currently, most locations open for Curbside Pickup at 11 a.m. and are closed Sundays.