CAPA, the area's largest operator of entertainment venues, is keeping its mask and vaccine requirement in place until April 4. "I am proud of Columbus residents who fought so hard for so long to beat back COVID-19 in our community," Ginther said. The advisory however does not require that masks be worn indoors and Columbus Public Health said there are no plans for a mask mandate at this time. 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. In Columbus, a mask mandate remains in effect for now. Columbus City Council plans to vote Monday to lift the mask mandate that now requires everyone to wear masks in indoor public places. That city council voted to follow the agency's recommendations Monday like Columbus. The first option is that city council could decide the mandate isno longer needed and removeit, she said. South-Western ended its requirement today. 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. Masks have once again become an essential accessory, but simply wearing a mask probably wont stop the flu from spreading. On Feb. 16, the mayors office announced that mask requirements could be lifted in the coming weeks if virus levels continue to decline, sharing the update after a meeting with officials who represent Bexley, Whitehall and Worthington. .style1 { text-align: center; }, Returning The lifting of local mask mandates comes as states across the country also consider pulling back their requirements, including both New York and New Jersey. Shadowbox Live: Effective Monday, the theater will no longer require guests to wear masks. Bexley City Schools still requires masks. The Wexner Center for the Arts: The venue is looking at its policy and will offer more information in the coming days. Despite the recommendation, Columbus and a handful of communities in Franklin County have public mask orders in place, but mayors have indicated that they are in the process of being reviewed.. 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. Columbus, OH 43215 The immunocompromised and unvaccinated are still recommended to wear masks in crowded situations, and some areas of the region still require masks. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Tags . 5 min read. It is time to turn our efforts to minimizing the impact COVID-19 has on our health, our health care systems and our community.. Several cities in Greater Columbus are expected to consider lifting theirrespective indoor mask mandates in the coming weeks if COVID-19 transmission rates and hospitalizations continue to decline. Athens, Bexley, Gambier, Whitehall and Yellow Springs, among . Masks are no longer required in indoor public places in Columbus. ordinance goes into effect upon signature by the Mayor and will be enforced by 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. Columbus' mask mandate had covered all indoor public spaces in city limits and applied to everyone, regardless of vaccination status. Due to guidance from Franklin County Public Health, the cities of Columbus, Whitehall, and Bexley all reinstated mask mandates back in September. "With decreasing case numbers and hospitalizations in Franklin County and across Ohio, we should feel good about where we are in this pandemic, but still vigilant," Council President Shannon Hardin said. Follow her on Twitter @megankhenry. There were six flu-related hospitalizations the week of Oct. 3-9 and no flu-related hospitalizations the week of Oct. 10-16, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Ohio reported 2,121 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, a dramatic decline from one month ago. 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. Worthington City Council is expected to vote to lift their mask mandate later this evening. Fast forward to February 2022, Vanderhoof said those hospitalizations have since declined by more than 50%. Roberts told The Dispatch in November that there aretwo ways thecurrent mandate could be relaxed in Columbus. Kessler, Ginther andothers included in the joint statement alsoreiterated the separation of cities and local school districts in their responses to the pandemic. The requirement had also applied to Worthington, which is covered by Columbus Public Health. Columbus Public Health. If youre vaccinated, boosted, whatever, and you want to wear a mask, go ahead, said resident David Dietz. We have now seemingly passed the peak of the omicron variant, Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler said. OSU announced Tuesday that it would end the mandate on Friday in general-purpose buildings, residence halls, dining facilities, classrooms, offices and the Ohio Union. The Ohio Department of Health reported 26,610 cases during the seven-day period ending Thursday. At the medium level, the CDC recommends people at increased risk consult with a health professional about wearing a mask. The second way the mandate could be dropped is if cases declined significantly. At the low level, there is no recommendation for masks. So the lifting of the requirement will mean that restaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores and other businesses will be able to set their own mask policies. The major attractions in Columbus have dropped their mask mandates, making them optional. complications. The COVID crisis is compounding right now, affecting too many File an Ethics Financial Disclosure Statement, Citizens' Commission on Elected Official Compensation. We're updating this file with information on the policies in local schools, at Ohio State,on buses, in theaters, at museums and more. Nationwide Arena andValue City Arenawill continue to follow local and Ohio State University mandates. Yes. CAPA, the area's largest operator of entertainment venues, is keeping its mask and vaccine requirement in place until April 4. I mean, we want to get to the point where we as a community, are safe in reducing that mask mandate.. Based onnew federal COVID-19 monitoring levelsreleased last month, Columbus officials have liftedthe mask requirement that's been in place in the city's indoor public buildings for sixmonths. 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. We are naive to think we are not going to have flu this year, Gastaldo said. As we prepare to adjust restrictions, we continue to support our educational leaders and recognize that classroom restrictions may vary from public space restrictions due to the unique challenges or maintaining a safe and inclusive learning and teaching environment," Whitehall Mayor Kim Maggard said. Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts said the health department will continue to focus on efforts to protect those who are at highest risk. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Supreme Court has re-implemented a mask mandate for visitors, hours after health officials in Columbus and Franklin County issued a mask advisory in. 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. . A sign requiring masks as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus is posted on a store front in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. because of the delta variant and we must do everything we can to protect our community 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Ohio as a whole recently reached 50,000 new cases within . The returning mandate follows the original COVID-19 mask mandate 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. Residents and businesses in families and children," said Council President Shannon G. Hardin. COLUMBUS, Ohio States across the country are easing their mask mandates for indoor settings as coronavirus cases nationwide have slowed down. protect health and prevent the spread of disease in our community. The time has come to release the mask mandate, and this is a thing to celebrate.. If you have a disability and experience difficulty accessing this content request an accommodation. Yes. That order is comparable to one imposed in July 2020, covering any indoor building space accessible to the public. In the past two weeks, there have been a little more than 200 COVID-19 cases reported in Bexley. While numbers are moving in the right direction, Columbus Public Health said it would like to reach a positivity rate of between 5 and 7 percent before lifting the mask mandate. Franklin County, along with 80other Ohio counties,is still rated as a redhigh-transmission county for the virus by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And rightfully so! At the medium level, the CDC recommends people at increased risk consult with a health professional about wearing a mask. Columbus City Council spokesperson David Miller said it is working with Columbus Public Health, following the latest case and hospitalization numbers. Columbus officials re-implemented an indoor mask mandatein mid-Septemberas cases of the delta variant began popping up. More than 60% of U.S. counties are at low or medium transmission. "What we have gone through collectively over the last two years has been difficult," Council President Shannon Hardin said. If you want a pest-free patio this spring, the most important thing you can do is take away those elements that bugs find desirable. "Council is taking action to respond responsibly, but we only win against Learn More. . The requirement has been in place since September 2021, nearly 6 months. As of Wednesday, the positive test rate was 8.9% andFranklin County wasreporting 163cases per 100,000 residents,according to the CDC. [COLUMBUS, OH] In response to the rise of the delta variant of State of play: Mandates are dropping in a domino effect. 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. $250 fine for each subsequent violation. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Roberts said Columbus Public Health has discussed the mask question with Columbus City Schools, but she is not aware of the district having made a decision yet. Worthington City Council is expected to vote to lift their mask mandate later this evening. Indoor mask mandate: When will Columbus lift its mask order? COVID-19 cases have declined by more than 90% in Ohio, official says, Children's hospitals treating kids with MIS-C from COVID-19, Updates: COVID-19 cases in Ohio schools falling, California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Franklin County is in the CDC's new medium transmission level, City officials are considering ending the mask mandate, A local hospital official makes the case for continuing masking. Red Herring Theater Company:Masks will become optional March 24 with the opening of the play Dancing Lessons, the companys next production. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. At the time, the mandates were in response to the delta variant as Franklin County averaged 493 COVID-19 cases per day. Despite the CDCs new guidance, he said Columbus should not relax its requirement. COVID-19 is spreading like wildfire here and across the country A spokesperson for the city of Columbus told 10TV Franklin County is still in the CDCs red category for high community transmission. the first violation, a $500 fine for the second violation and a $1,000 fine for Columbus last had a mask mandate in place from September 2021 until March 2022. and prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed, said Health Commissioner Dr. Flu season typically runs from October to late May. 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. The major attractions in Columbus have dropped their mask mandates, making them optional. Do I have to wear a mask at museums and the zoo? 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. Dispatch reporter Max Filby contributed to this report. That applies toCOTA buses and rideshare services, like Uber and Lyft. School districts in central Ohio have already begun relaxing their mask mandates because of the current trend. UPDATED 6:22 PM ET Feb. 28, 2022 COLUMBUS, Ohio Columbus Public Health announced Monday that it recommends the city can lift its mask requirement on March 7. The 2 killed, 4 wounded in Mississippi shooting; man arrested, 150 years later, Dixon bridge tragedy among nation's worst, Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says he wants to 'shut down the FBI' and replace it with something that sounds a lot like the FBI, Sanders: Biden could win in a landslide, Broad Street Run participants picking up badges at Convention Center, Body of man found as firefighters put out flames in Nassau County, Fort Worth man mistakenly identified as gunman in Cleveland, TX mass shooting. By, Classical 101 Playlist & Program Schedule, Omicron BA.5 variant driving up summer increase in new Ohio cases, A new patch fixes contact tracing vulnerability on smartphones. COLUMBUS, Ohio Columbus Public Health announced Monday that it recommends the city can lift its mask requirement on March 7. Columbus Public Health said in a news release that it enacted the advisory because Franklin County is now listed as a high level of transmission on the Centers for Disease Control and. the disease if our businesses and residents do their parts to mask up and get Columbus Public Health will enforce this requirement and issue Think outside the box this Mothers Day and opt for gifts other than flowers and chocolate. However, the Ohio Health physician said he expects another COVID variant to come on the scene. Most Greater Columbus residents dont just solely stay in the city. According to WBNS-10TV, Worthington's mask requirement will lift Thursday. But Bexley residents remain divided on when that should happen. Columbus officials re-implemented an indoor mask mandate in mid-September as cases of the delta variant began popping up. COLUMBUS, Ohio The mask mandate in Columbus could be lifted soon due to signficant declines in case numbers, officials said Wednesday. There were 363 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the15-county hospitalization region that includes Franklin County as of Wednesday, according to the Ohio Hospital Association. Recently, the CDC did change their public masking recommendations for the public, and they basically come out with a color code system. They Refused to Fight for Russia. More than 60% of U.S. counties are at at low or medium transmission. Despite the CDC's new guidance, he said Columbus should not relax its requirement. But that doesn't mean you should throw your mask away completely. Ohio Health Dr. Joseph Gastaldo, who specializes in infectious disease, said COVID numbers are down significantly in the central Ohio area, but we still need to be careful as we shed the masks. The mask requirement in Whitehall was ended Monday. check-in window for Columbus Public Health to report back to Council on the @ColumbusCouncil voted to lift this requirement based on new CDC mask guidelines & public health recommendations. Columbus isn't the only Ohio city to require masks. > 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. 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. Last years flu season was basically nonexistent due to masking and social distancing because of COVID-19 concerns, said Dr. Joseph Gastaldo, an infectious disease doctor at OhioHealth. This mask mandate will remain in effect until Mayor Ginther rescinds his COVID-19, there exists a need for a face covering (mask) requirement in the City of Columbus. With that good news comes a question that is most likely on many minds: Is Columbus close to dropping its mask mandate? Vaccines and face coverings are the best tools we have to Columbus City Council was one of the last school districts to require masks, a rule that ended Tuesday. Now, its a transition in a very favorable direction, he said. Herbert is pleased that virus numbers are falling briskly COVID-19 hospitalizations at Mount Carmel have dropped tenfold since the peak, but he said the mandate should continue because he believes that masking is part of the reason why cases are dropping. 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. Most Columbus-area schools have removed their mask mandates in recent weeks. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. That includes: It depends on the venue, and the performer, who can still make their own rules at most venues. Why do white supremacist terrorists get to threaten terrorism w/o consequence???Horrific. School mask requirements are also still up to individual school boards. The requirement has been in place since September 2021, nearly 6 months. Now, the COVID-19 vaccine is readily available in Columbus and many previous restrictions have been lifted, except the mask mandate causing people to return to normal activities, Roberts said. When we have mild flu seasons in a row it makes it more likely that coming up its going to be a more robust or more severe flu season, so that may be the case this year, Gastaldo said. directing residents to wear facial coverings or masks in indoor public spaces. That order is comparable toone imposed in July 2020, covering any indoor building space accessible to the public. But that doesn't mean you should throw your mask away completely. "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. Bittersweet honor: Columbus airman helps hospital workers during COVID-19, 'Hero pay': Columbus first responders were promised $1,000; they haven't seen a dime. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new COVID-19 risk guidance map Friday that indicates counties representing more than 70% of the U.S. population may not need to wear masks indoors including Franklin County and its surrounding . Others have lifted the mandates in schools. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Wearing a mask and testing if youre sick also will help slow down the spread.. With. pic.twitter.com/JesywxLZMC. Columbus mask mandate 2022: Where do I still have to mask. More education news: Get updates on Columbus schools, Ohio State and more with new education newsletter. Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler said in the release that he's eager to be in a position where conditions "warranta relaxing of general public space requirements, and as we have in the past we will continue to turn to our public health departments for their recommendations, guidanceand expertise.. Abbey Theatre of Dublin: Masks are now optional. All Federal employees, onsite contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a high-quality mask inside of Federal buildings in areas where the COVID-19 community level is high, or where required by local mask mandates, as further explained below. Following recent virus declines, Franklin County is at themedium level, according to the CDC. I see that the cases are going down, but for the moment being, I dont think I would change anything, because nobody can really go outside, said resident Ricarda Sarkar. On Feb. 16, the mayors office announced that mask requirements could be lifted in the coming weeks if virus levels continue to decline, sharing the update after a meeting with officials who represent Bexley, Whitehall and Worthington. @ColumbusCouncil voted to lift this requirement based on new CDC mask guidelines & public health recommendations. The pandemic is not over, but the situation has changed, and we are in a new phase, Roberts said.