COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus City Council voted unanimously to repeal the city’s mask mandate Monday evening.
The change is a response to May 13 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Gov. Mike DeWine’s recent moves to end mask requirements for most situations.
What You Need To Know
- Columbus’s mask mandate has been in effect since July
- The city is lifting the ordinance in response to federal guidance
- The repeal takes effect when it receives the mayor’s approval
Councilmember Priscilla Tyson, Health & Human Services chair, said despite the end of the mask requirement, the COVID-19 health crisis is ongoing and unvaccinated people are still at risk of contracting the virus.
“We are transitioning to a different stage where the numbers are down and restrictions are being lifted. However, I would encourage people to continue to wear the mask when appropriate, especially if you are not vaccinated,” she said.
Columbus Public Health Assistant Health Commissioner Michael Fielding said the department agrees with the move to drop the mask mandate to align with CDC guidance. Those who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear a mask, he said.
Councilmember Elizabeth Brown said while the pandemic is entering a different phase, it’s not over yet. She is concerned that there are communities in Columbus with vaccination rates below 40%, some of which were the hardest hit by COVID-19.
Brown said she is appreciative of the businesses in the city that still have signs up for masking because she feels safer shopping with her three young kids at stores where patrons are wearing masks.
Ahead of the vote, four major central Ohio hospitals issued a statement Monday reminding patients and visitors that masks continue to be required at their facilities.
“The use of face coverings will continue to be required for patients and visitors at all hospital and healthcare facilities,” OhioHealth, Wexner Medical, Nationwide Children’s and Mount Carmel said in the joint statement.
Of Ohio’s major cities, Columbus took the most time to repeal its local mask ordinance. Most of Ohio’s local mask ordinances were lifted on or before June 2, the date when most of Ohio’s health orders ended.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther asked City Council to repeal the city’s mask order on May 19.
The city is reporting new cases at its lowest level since last April with 37.1 average daily cases, according to Columbus Public Health.
The repeal is written to take effect when it receives Ginther’s approval.
Council just repealed the City’s mask mandate on the advice of @ColumbusHealth.
We encourage all residents to practice distancing and wear masks when necessary, while following the guidelines of public health experts.
Also, get vaccinated for #COVID19!#CCC4U
— Columbus Council (@ColumbusCouncil) June 7, 2021
In Columbus, many establishments stopped requiring masks on Wednesday when the state’s health orders expired.
The city is reporting a 49.1% vaccination rate, which is higher than the statewide rate of 46.1%.
Some businesses have not been requiring masks since May 17 when the state updated its health orders to align with the federal recommendation that fully vaccinated residents would no longer need masks in most situations.
Prior to the repeal, Columbus Public Health said it was focused on mitigating the pandemic by encouraging vaccination, not by enforcing the expiring mask order.
