COLUMBUS — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is ordering that masks be worn statewide to slow the spread of the coronavirus. DeWine says the mask mandate will go into effect Thursday at 6 p.m. for everyone age 10 and older.
The Republican governor said Wednesday that more counties are seeing an increasing number of cases. Residents will need to wear a mask when out in public or in a place where they are unable to follow social distancing rules.
Up until now, Ohio had only required masks in counties that were considered “hotspots.”
The order includes exclusions for the following:
- Those with medical conditions or a disability or those communicating with someone with a disability
- Those who are actively exercising or playing sports
- Those who are officiants at religious services
- Those who are actively involved in public safety
- Those who are actively eating or drinking
“Wearing masks will make a difference,” DeWine said on Twitter. “It will determine what our fall looks like. We want kids to go back to school, we want to see sports — to do that it’s very important that all Ohioans wear a mask.”
In addition, DeWine issued a travel advisory recommending that individuals coming to Ohio from states reporting positive testing rates of 15 percent or higher for COVID-19 self-quarantine for 14 days.