Ohio governor issues mandatory statewide mask order

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced Wednesday that all citizens would be required to wear masks while out in public beginning Thursday evening.

The announcement, which DeWine mentioned on Twitter, follows a previous mandate earlier this month that imposed mask regulations on specific counties experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks.

The measure, which goes into effect at 6 p.m. Thursday, requires that individuals wear face masks at indoor locations that are not a residence, at outdoor locations where six feet of social distance is not feasible and when queuing for public transportation services. 

Exclusions for the statewide mask order include individuals with a medical condition or disability and those communicating with someone with a disability.

Other exemptions include those participating in athletic activities, officiants at religious services, those involved in public safety, and anyone eating or drinking.

The measures come just days after DeWine told NBC moderator Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press” that Ohio “could become Florida,” referencing the record high case numbers the state has reported in contrast to the state’s early handling of the pandemic.

“Wearing masks will make a difference,” DeWine penned on Twitter following the mask ordinance announcement. “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. #MasksOnOhio.”

According to the Ohio Department of Health, the state recorded a single-day climb of 1,527 cases, with a total of 78,742 cases since the start of the pandemic.

The department also reported 16 new deaths related to the virus in the past 24 hours, with 3,235 COVID-19 related deaths in the state this year.