COLUMBUS, Ohio — Masks on, Ohio.
That's the message from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who officially issued a statewide mask mandate. So ... now what? Here's what you should know about the executive order:
- Goes into effect Thursday, July 23 at 6 p.m.
Requires Ohioans to wear facial coverings in public at all times when:
- At an indoor location that is not a residence
- Outdoors, but unable to maintain six-foot social distance from people who are not household members
- Waiting for, riding, driving, or operating public transportation, such as a taxi, a car service, or a private car used for ride-sharing.
This affects all Ohioans over the age of 10 years old except for:
- Those with a medical condition 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
DIRECTOR'S ORDER FOR THE STATE OF OHIO
RELATED: Ohio Coronavirus Update: Henry, Erie, Defiance move to red on advisory map; Wood Co. drops to orange
GATHERINGS AND FAIRS
In addition, DeWine urged residents to use extreme caution when considering attending or hosting an informal gathering.
"We are seeing serious exposures to the virus that are arising from everyday events like church services, small house parties, neighborhood get-togethers, children’s sleepovers, weddings, and even bridal showers," DeWine said. "This virus is real, and we cannot let our guards down."
He also stressed the importance of following safety guidance during county fair events. This comes after a 19-case outbreak linked to a county fair in Ohio. The governor spoke with fair managers from across the state.
"We've seen photos of packed grandstands and little social distancing," said Governor DeWine. "We want fairs to continue, but I expressed in the phone call today that fairs must follow the rules."
TRAVEL ADVISORY
DeWine also announced a travel advisory for all individuals coming into Ohio from states reporting positive COVID-19 testing rates of 15 percent or higher.
Those traveling from one of the following states should self-quarantine for 14 days at home or in a hotel.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- South Carolina
- Texas
The self-quarantine recommendation applies to those who live in Ohio and to people who are traveling into Ohio from any of these states.
A searchable database of commonly asked questions and topics dealing with the coronavirus in Ohio can be found at the state resource website here.