CINCINNATI – The City of Cincinnati suspended its masking and testing requirements Tuesday at all of its facilities.
During a news conference at City Hall, Pureval cited declining rates of transmission and COVID-related hospitalizations as reasons for the decision. He also noted the move is consistent with what other organizations are doing across the country.
The updated policy went into effect immediately.
“While COVID is not over, this is a turning point,” said a mask-free Pureval, who was joined by city and health officials and representatives from the police and fire unions.
The mayor said the weather is getting warmer, and “people are out in public spending time with each other and supporting local businesses.” He feels the city is going into the spring and summer months “with incredible optimism and confidence about what’s to come.”
While the moves don’t affect any private businesses, Pureval alluded to the fact that he feels Cincinnati reached a point where residents and would-be tourists should feel comfortable going out to bars, restaurants and other entertainment centers. He said many of those businesses are still working to recover from COVID-19.
The city updated the policy on March 1 to remove the mask requirement for vaccinated staff members of members of public. Tuesday’s news takes that one step further to include all staff members and the public regardless over the status.
“As a result of the declining number of positive cases in Hamilton County and revisions to (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Ohio Department of Health) guidance, I have approved a revision to the City Administration’s masking policy for City facilities based on the advice of the Cincinnati Health Department,” wrote interim City Manager John Curp in a memo to Pureval and members of City Council.
Additionally, “vaccinated workers and visitors to City facilities” are no longer required to wear masks.
Beyond City Hall, the mask policy also affected other city properties, such as the recreation centers and golf course clubhouses run by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission. Masks are still required on board the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar, based on federal regulations.
“It’s important for us to understand that today, it is safe to embrace that. It’s safe to go downtown, to your neighborhood town center, to your rec center — and to live your life and be a part of your community,” he added.
On Jan. 12, not long after taking office, Cincinnati enacted a state of emergency as COVID-19 cases and virus-related hospitalizations were on the rise in communities across the greater Cincinnati region.
The declaration required everyone, regardless of their vaccination status, to wear a mask while inside City Hall or any other city facility. That included areas like health clinics and Cincinnati Recreation Commission health centers.
The rules affected city employees, but also contractors and any visitors or guests.
At the time, Pureval said the goal was to slow the spread of COVID-19 among city staff and reduce the risk of contagion between not only city employees but also the public.
Between Dec. 1, 2021 and Jan. 11, 2022, 700 city employees tested positive for COVID-19. In the same time period, 333 employees went into quarantine. The city has about 6,000 total employees spread across its various departments.
The mask mandate was set to expire 30 days, which would have been mid-February, but the city extended it.
The policy was also penned as a model for “best practices for private employers and businesses throughout the region,” according to a memo on the topic by former City Manager Paula Boggs Muething sent to department directors.
At the time, the Cincinnati Health Department noted the city’s most positive testing rate had increased to more than 16%. But Tuesday, that number was at 2.5% and still declining, Pureval said.
Hospitalizations are down to fewer than 10 COVID-19 patients per 100,000 people over the last week in Hamilton County, per Pureval.
On Monday night, the Cincinnati Board of Education voted to make masks optional for all students, staff and visitors inside Cincinnati Public Schools buildings.
Though masking and testing requirements are now options, Pureval advised city employees and residents to remain diligent. He is a reminding residents of the importance of vaccination and to get tested when experiencing symptoms.
Anyone who is sick or not feeling well should stay home, he said.
Noting that there may be “more challenges ahead,” Pureval said the city will respond accordingly based on recommendations from local health officials and partners. But today is “another demonstration that we can make it through them by working together and doing what it takes.”
