The requirement has been in place since September 2021, nearly 6 months. According to CDC data, Franklin County has a case rate of 82 per 100,000 residents over the last seven days. With that good news comes a question that is most likely on many minds: Is Columbus close to dropping its mask mandate? The CDC guidance said a county needs to have fewer than 200 cases per 100,000 people in the last week to be at the low or medium levels. But one local infectious disease doctor said although the COVID-19 pandemic is moving in the right direction, our battle with the deadly disease is not over yet. Masks are stillrequired, however,on CABS buses, in clinical health care settingssuch as at the Wexner Medical Center, COVID-19 testing locations and child care centers. The next letter in the Greek alphabet is pi, there will be a pi variant. 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. There are mask mandates here in Columbus, but Im still very concerned that the cold and flu season in 2021-2022 will not be as mild as it was last season, said Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts. In Ohio, state health officials reported a steady decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the course of one month. The mask mandate applies to anyone over the age of 2 and whether they've been vaccinated or not. A spokesperson for the city of Columbus told 10TV Franklin County is still in the CDCs red category for high community transmission. Learn More. "I think there's science that can justify either decision they make," she said. Most Columbus-area schools have removed their mask mandates in recent weeks. That will soon be going away in most indoor spaces. So bring your mask and card to those venues, which includethe Ohio Theatre, Palace Theatre, Southern Theatre, Lincoln Theatre, and the Riffe Centers Davidson Theatre and three studio theaters. 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. A few jurisdictions across Ohio have mask mandates in place including Columbus but the vast . .style1 { text-align: center; }, Returning Stay connected with our daily stories, in-depth reporting and more by clicking Subscribe at the top of the page. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Now, its a transition in a very favorable direction, he said. Protecting ourselves and our community from COVID-19 takes a multi-layered approach said Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts. Philadelphia city officials have lifted its vaccine mandate for indoor dining and other establishments that serve food and drinks, but an indoor mask mandate remains in place. Columbus, OH 43215 "Its hard to predict what will happen with this years flu cases," Gastaldo said. Worthington City Council is expected to vote to lift their mask mandate later this evening. 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. Cases of the coronavirus continue to rise due to the omicron BA.5 variant, which is more contagious and more likely to lead to reinfection. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The mask mandate is required for both vaccinated and unvaccinated 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. Other cities like Bexley and Whitehall enacted similar mandates to help slow the spread. Red Herring Theater Company:Masks will become optional March 24 with the opening of the play Dancing Lessons, the companys next production. 30 Apr 2023 13:50:15 Columbus Public Health. . Natasha is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and has more than 20 years of television news and radio experience. Columbus City Council plans to vote Monday to lift the mask mandate that now requires everyone to wear masks in indoor public places. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from hospitalization and death from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated and boosted. 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. City council passed an ordinance last year, requiring both vaccinated and unvaccinated people to wear masks in indoor public spaces. Learn More. Columbus OH 43215-9015 columbuscitycouncil.org File Number: 2388-2021 . Reach her at, Possibility of a COVID and flu 'twindemic' depends on the actions of Ohioans, Columbus order to require masks for all publicly accessible indoor spaces, Restaurants, other shops support Columbus mask mandate, but feel burdened by enforcement, Columbus mask mandate probably won't stop flu season, experts say. We will continue to seek the guidance from our Health Commissioner, Dr. Mysheika Roberts, spokesperson Robin Davis said. Columbus City Council and the mayor could take action to lift the mandate in the city. According toWBNS-10TV, Worthington's mask requirement will lift Thursday. 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. As of July 18, the positivity rate in Franklin County is 19.8%. 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. People with COVID-19 who never get sick or have mild 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio The mask mandate in Columbus could be lifted soon due to signficant declines in case numbers, officials said Wednesday. A previous mask mandate ended in early June, about a week after a statewide mask order expired. council there could be an update on CCS's mask . ordinance goes into effect upon signature by the Mayor and will be enforced by The CDCs new guidance bases mask recommendation on three transmission levels low, medium and high, which are determined by cases, hospitalizations and hospital capacity. At the medium level, the CDC recommends people at increased risk consult with a health professional about wearing a mask. 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. Nationwide Arena andValue City Arenawill continue to follow local and Ohio State University mandates. Combined with last week, the state has reported more than 50,000 cases during the two most recent reporting periods, the first time thats happened since last winter. The requirement was implemented in September in response to rising cases. 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. Vanderhoff said case rates vary substantially from county to county, and he also stressed that high-risk individuals are encouraged to continue wearing masks, even as communities in Ohio ease their guidance. Reach her at mhenry@dispatch.com or (614) 559-1758. State, federal and religious buildings have not been included, meaning those agencies and institutions decided their own policy. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus mask mandate 2022: Where do I still have to mask? The CDC said Friday that it now only recommends universal school masking in communities at the high level. The CDCs new guidance bases mask recommendations on three transmission levels low, medium and high, which are determined by cases, hospitalizations and hospital capacity. A previous mask mandate ended in early June, about a week after a. School mask requirements are also still up to individual school boards. 5 min read. As face-covering requirements for public spaces are lifted by various local governments, businesses, organizations and venues will have the flexibility to determine the appropriate protocols for their facilities, said Worthington City Manager Matt Greeson. Here's how you can get started, Columbus doctor, parent weighs in on mask debate, Ohio State reopening concessions at athletic events, relaxing other pandemic restrictions. Yes. Gateway Film Center: The theaterwill be adjusting its mask policy and will announce details later in the week. Residents will receive a the disease if our businesses and residents do their parts to mask up and get The mask requirement in Whitehall was ended Monday. check-in window for Columbus Public Health to report back to Council on the removed their mask mandates in recent weeks, Get updates on Columbus schools, Ohio State and more with new education newsletter. I think we should be masking for all indoor activities currently, he said. The reality is we're in a period of transition. With COVID-19 cases starting to decline, fatigue over mask mandates is starting to grow. "Council is taking action to respond responsibly, but we only win against Only 0.2% of respiratory specimens tested by clinical laboratories last season came back positive for the influenza virus nationwide. Bexley City Councillifted its mask mandatelast week. The TSA requirement also applies to airports and airplanes. 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. These experts aren't quite ready. What You Need To Know Recent virus trends prompted officials to discuss easing restrictions Masks have been required indoors in Columbus since September People who live in cities like Columbus where masks are required indoors might be slightly less likely to catch the flu this year, but local health experts doubt a citys mask mandate will make that much of a dent in the overall number of flu cases.
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