COLUMBUS – The public health agencies in Columbus and Franklin County are both loosening mask mandates as COVID-19 cases fall.
Franklin County Public Health is rescinding its mask advisory for residents, schools, employers, and other public indoor settings throughout the county, based on new guidance announced Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
UPDATE: We're rescinding our universal mask advisory for all residents, including schools, employers, and other public indoor settings throughout our community. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/SF6XwH3Wof
— Franklin County PH (@FC_PublicHealth) February 28, 2022
The CDC’s updated framework for monitoring evaluates factors that reflect the severity of disease, including hospitalizations and hospital capacity, according to a post on the Franklin County agency’s website.
Based on its new framework, CDC has determined the risk in Franklin County to be “yellow,” denoting a low level of community spread of the virus, which says that masks are not required.
Columbus Public Health, which has jurisdiction over the cities of Columbus and Worthington, is recommending that the mask requirements there end March 7.
“The pandemic is not over, but the situation has changed, and we are in a new phase. It is time to turn our efforts to minimizing the impact COVID-19 has on our health, our healthcare systems and our community, while focusing our efforts on protecting those who are most at risk of severe illness,” Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts said.
The mask mandates in Columbus and Worthington will have to be removed by the city councils there and by an executive order from Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther.
The state reported 729 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and 56 new hospitalizations.
The Ohio Hospital Association reported that the number of COVID-19 patients has fallen to 204, the lowest number since early August.