CINCINNATI — Mayor Aftab Pureval announced a state of emergency Wednesday as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise across the state.
The state of emergency requires all city employees to wear masks regardless of vaccination status, and also requires anyone who enters city facilities to wear masks.
“This is a necessary measure to protect lives and ensure that the city staff is safe and able to get to work,” Pureval said at a press conference.
City Manager Paula Boggs Muething encouraged all workers to get a booster shot. Currently, 71% of city employees are vaccinated and those who aren’t are getting tested biweekly.
Between Dec. 1, 2021 and Jan. 11, 2022, 700 city employees have tested positive for COVID-19. In the same time period, 333 employees were asked to quarantine.
Cincinnati Health Commissioner Melba Moore said the city has more than a 16% positivity rate as of Wednesday.
Hamilton County declared a state of emergency also Tuesday to help with emergency purchase of COVID supplies such as tests.
This story will be updated with more information.
