COLUMBUS – Columbus and Franklin County health agencies are recommending residents wear masks indoors and in crowded outdoor areas regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status due to a surge in cases.
Columbus Public Health and Franklin County Public Health issued advisories Friday after
the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that Franklin, Pickaway and Union counties were experiencing a high level of community spread of the disease.
Residents were advised to wear a mask indoors in public places and in crowded outdoor areas regardless of their vaccination status and employers were encouraged to consider requiring masks in places of business, according to the county agency’s advisory.
The city did not echo the county agency’s recommendation for businesses.
The advisory is not an order and it is being placed to urge people to wear a mask in public places. There are no plans for a mandated mask order at this time, Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts said.
The case rate in Franklin County is 214 per 100,000 and
the positivity rate is 19.8%, health officials reported.
Residents are advised to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters,
get tested right away if they have symptoms, and stay home if they test positive.
Many areas of the country are experiencing growing levels of COVID-19 infection due to the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron variants of the novel coronavirus.