Expect businesses and organized gatherings to post visible signs at entrances requiring all persons not fully vaccinated entering to wear a face mask. As far as operations, we are pretty much back to normal and staff have returned full time, to include our adult probation department," a spokesperson for the court told News 5. Why would DoJ and CDC not immediately appeal? As reported by CNN:11, "The first part of the judge's 59-page ruling12turned on the meaning of the word 'sanitation,' as it functions in the 1944 statute that gives the federal government the authority in its efforts to combat communicable diseases to issue regulations concerning 'sanitation. In Ohio, most of the state is at a low or medium level. He had been vaccinated and boosted against the disease. Firefighters used ladders to rescue at least five people from a burning Indianapolis apartment building where others reportedly jumped from third-floor windows to escape the smoke and flames, A mistrial was declared after a jury in southern Arizona was unable to reach a verdict on a murder charge against a man accused of killing a 6-year-old girl, A now-shuttered Wisconsin substance abuse center and its CEO owe the government more than $2 million in a Medicaid fraud case. That includes: It depends on the venue, and the performer, who can still make their own rules at most venues. Sean Patrick Maloney (@RepSeanMaloney) February 9, 2022 I did. So the lifting of the requirement will mean thatrestaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores and other businesses will be able to set their own mask policies. COLUMBUS, Ohio Columbus Public Health is recommending city leaders in Columbus and Worthington wait until March 7 to end mask mandates. March 18, 2022. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The lawsuit was brought by the Health Freedom Defense Fund, The mandate was unlawful because the CDC did not have the statutory authority to issue such a rule. Red Herring Theater Company:Masks will become optional March 24 with the opening of the play Dancing Lessons, the companys next production. Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse and Grandview Theater and Drafthouse: Mask mandates have ended. Its important that those not fully vaccinated continue to wear masks indoors and follow other preventative measures to keep themselves as healthy as possible.". Masks must be worn in the following circumstances: A few jurisdictions across Ohio have mask mandates in place including Columbus but the vast majority of Dayton-area municipalities have no such rules. If you can breathe, the virus will slip through. Pending legislation would go even further, essentially banning vaccination mandates from any employer, business, school, insurer, hospital, nursing home and more. HONG KONG (Reuters) -Hong Kong will drop its COVID-19 mask mandate, chief executive John Lee said on Tuesday, in a move to lure back visitors and business and restore normal life more than three . The March 2020 decision to prohibit spectators at the Arnold Sports Festival was a harbinger of how significantly the novel coronavirus would impact life in Ohio. Columbus City Council voted unanimously Mondaytorescind the city's COVID-19 mask mandate, after a city health official confirmed that the risk level to the community continued to drop over the last week. Ohioans have done a great job during the pandemic. The Wexner Center for the Arts:The venue is looking at its policy and will offer more information in the coming days. CAPA, the area's largest operator of entertainment venues, is keeping its mask and vaccine requirement in place until April 4. March 1, 2023, 11:34 AM PST. However, the politics are dicer. 08/31/20 -Directors Second Amended Order for Non-Congregate Sheltering to be utilized throughout Ohio, 08/31/20 -Directors Order on the Opening of Adult Day Care Services and Senior Centers, 08/28/20 -Directors First Amended Order that Provides Mandatory Requirements for Youth, Collegiate, Amateur, Club and Professional Sports, 08/21/20 -Directors Order for the Testing of the Residents and Staff of all Residential Care Facilities, 08/19/20 -Directors Order that Provides Mandatory Requirements for Youth, Collegiate, Amateur, Club and Professional Sports, 08/01/20 -Directors Corrected Third Order to Extend the Expiration date of Second Amended Order that Provides Guidance for Contact Sport Practices and Non-Contact Sport Competitions, and Contact Competition, with Exceptions, 07/30/20 -Directors Amended Order Limiting County Fairs to Junior Fair Activities and Animal Exhibitions, with Exceptions, 07/22/20 -Second Directors Order to Extend the Expiration date of Second Amended Order that Provides Guidance for Contact Sport Practices and Non-Contact Sport Competitions, and Contact Competition, with Exceptions, 07/17/20 -Addendum to Directors Order for Facial Coverings in Counties in Level 3 Public Health Advisory, 07/16/20 -Directors Order to Extend the Expiration date of Second Amended Order that Provides Guidance for Contact Sport Practices and Non-Contact Sport Competitions, and Contact Competition, with Exceptions, 07/10/20 -Addendum to Directors Order for Facial Coverings in Counties in Level 3 Public Health Advisory, 07/08/20 -Directors Order for Facial Coverings in Butler, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Huron, Montgomery, and Trumbull Counties in Level 3 Public Health Advisory, 07/07/20 -Directors Second Amended Order that Provides Guidance for Contact Sport Practices and Non-Contact Sport Competitions, and Contact Competition, with Exceptions, 07/02/20 -Fourth Amended Directors Order to Limit Access to Ohios Nursing Homes and Similar Facilities, with Exceptions, 06/30/20 -Directors Order to Extend the Expiration Date of Various Orders, 06/30/20 - Directors Order that ProvidesGuidance for Contact Sport Practices and Non-Contact Sport Competitions, with Exceptions, 06/16/20 -Directors Order that Reopens County Fairs and Animal Exhibitions, with Exceptions. Mike DeWine rescinded the health orders to conform to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for vaccinated individuals. And, with more than five million Ohioans who have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, we are getting back to living the lives we want," DeWine said in a statement on Tuesday. According to the CDC, people are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 two weeks after receiving their second dose (either Pfizer or Moderna) or two weeks after receiving the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 'But the power to conditionally release and detain is ordinarily limited to individuals entering the United States from a foreign country.'. 07/31/20Executive Order 2020-30DThe Rescission of Executive Order 2020-10D and Emergency Adoption of Rule 4301:1-1-80of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Liquor Control Commission, 07/16/20 Executive Order 2020-29DThe Emergency Adoption of Rule 5160-1-18 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Department of Medicaid and the Emergency Amendment of Rule 5122-29-31 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, 07/09/20Executive Order 2020-28DDirecting Expenditure of Fiscal Year 2021 TANF Funds by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, 07/09/20ExecutiveOrder2020-27Directing Expenditure of Fiscal Year 2021 TANF Funds by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, 07/02/20 Executive Order 2020-26D Authorizing One-Hundred (100) Percent Federal Funding for SharedWork Ohio Benefits, 06/18/20ExecutiveOrder2020-24DUnemployment Insurance During COVID-19 Pandemic. Rescinded Public Health Orders Ohio Department of Health Governor DeWine Joint Director's Order s Share this For more information CDC Travel Information University Hospitals will also maintain a mask mandate. Across the country, more. Spokeswoman for Butler County. The Supreme Court heard arguments Friday about the Biden administration's vaccine mandates. Thats what makes it so difficult to reconcile in my head: I know people have opinions, I know it has been politicized, but theres no downside to wearing a mask. Reveal Truth On Vaccines with Nicholas Veniamin. Cincinnati Public Schools suspended its mask mandate on March 7. CWRU drops mask mandate. requests that unvaccinated customers wear masks when in our stores and facilities. Gov. While unvaccinated residents are still being told to wear masks, proof of vaccination is not required for going out without a mask in Ohio. COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates In the face of another surge in COVID-19 cases, some states are requiring certain workers to be vaccinated or comply with mask and COVID-19 testing requirements. Shadowbox Live: Effective Monday, the theater will no longer require guests to wear masks. They're not alone. A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Governor Jon Husted today provided the following updates on Ohio's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Columbus Public Health and Franklin County Public Health issued a mask advisory today urging everyone to wear a mask indoors and in crowded areas regardless of vaccine status until further notice. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The lawsuit was brought by the Health Freedom Defense Fund (HFDF), which noted that "There are legal guardrails in place to protect our basic liberties and rights even during a pandemic. But the CDC is now using three metrics to determine its new rankings. Penalties for mask mandate:Most Columbus businesses complied with mask mandate, inspection reports show. That question has divided people in Michigan and around the country almost from the start of the pandemic in early 2020. However, we do have some clues. The guidelines are designed to help limit the spread of COVID-19 as the pandemic winds down while also taking into consideration areas where there is less of a threat to overwhelming hospitals. Version 2 Health and Safety. Masks in schools: Is your school district requiring masks? Experts associated with The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota have laid out a more complex analysis: Given the current understanding that the virus is transmitted in fine aerosol particles, it's likely an infectious dose could easily get through and around loose-fitting cloth or surgical masks , [States] with mask mandates haven't fared significantly better than the 35 states that didn't impose them during the omicron wave There's little evidence that mask mandates are the primary reason the pandemic waves eventually fall though much of the outrage over lifting mandates is based on that assumption. She said a healthy, 28-year-old patient of hers skipped vaccination, contracted COVID-19, and went home until his blood oxygen unexpectedly plummeted. As a result, the IDPFR has threatened my medical licensure unless I expressly support and enforce a mask mandate for all students. Home / World News / This city had world's longest Covid mask mandate. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Masks Available for OHIO Community Members All rights reserved. If you have to wear a mask to get an ice cream cone, walk outside have your ice cream cone, whats the big deal? The . Immunocompromised individuals and those who arent vaccinated should consider continuing to wear a mask, Ginther said. DODD encourages providers to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and DSPs are familiar with and follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) related to social distancing and personal hygiene. Between January 12, 2022, and February 20, 2022, the seven-day average for COVID deaths remained more than 2,000 fatalities every day. Reuters reported earlier Friday on the solicitors general making the remote arguments. Most mask mandates have ended at least for now, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health authorities, including the . Public health is science-based, public health is data-driven, public health is about making recommendations, issuing guidance, and putting in policies that protect the general population. DeWines removal of Ohio health orders comes amid legislative pressure. Hes now stable and fighting for his life. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Supreme Court has re-implemented a mask mandate for visitors, hours after health officials in Columbus and Franklin County issued a mask advisory in response to. Portland Public Schools has lifted all mask requirements. FILE - Commuters wearing face masks browse their smartphones as they ride on a subway train in Hong Kong on Feb. 7, 2023. Professor Mark Crispin Miller, who taught classes on mass persuasion and propaganda at the New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development for the last two decades, is but one example. By Pete Grieve Columbus PUBLISHED 3:52 PM ET Feb. 02, 2022 COLUMBUS, Ohio Health officials in Columbus indicated that the city's indoor mask requirement will likely remain in place for a while longer because current case levels are about 12 times higher than the target for ending the mandate. Updated: Feb 8, 2022 / 05:46 PM EST DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - As state leaders across the United States continue to seriously discuss the removal of mask mandates due to a decrease in COVID-19. The order runs for 30 days until Feb. 11. The reason is simple: Respiratory viruses are airborne and so tiny they flow through most barriers. The ruling by the US District Court ruling is a matter of law, not CDC preference or an assessment of 'current health conditions.'. In the interim, the Order clarifies . Taking questions from reporters, Roberts said she was completely supportive of employers who have required that their employees seek vaccination against COVID-19. While DoJ and CDC play politics with Americans' health and freedoms, HFDF trusts individual Americans to make their own health decisions. COLUMBUS, Ohio States across the country are easing their mask mandates for indoor settings as coronavirus cases nationwide have slowed down. Masks will still be present in public life. RELATED: DeWines removal of Ohio health orders comes amid legislative pressure. The safety of our patients, visitors and caregivers remains our top priority. A 2009 study published in JAMA, which compared the effectiveness of surgical masks and N95 respirators to prevent seasonal influenza in a hospital setting; 24% of the nurses in the surgical mask group still got the flu, as did 23% of those who wore N95 respirators. The minimum wage for tipped employees went from $4.40 to $4.65. Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts, flanked by physicians and. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in an interview Friday on NBCs TODAY" show that the number of cases is rising faster than the number of hospitalizations. A large COVID-19-specific randomized controlled surgical mask trial, published November 18, 2020, which showed that a) masks may reduce your risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection by as much as 46%, or it may actually increase your risk by 23%, and b) the vast majority 97.9% of those who didn't wear masks, and 98.2% of those who did remained infection free. That applies toCOTA buses and rideshare services, like Uber and Lyft. The CDC had initially issued a "strong recommendation" to wear masks on planes and public transportation in October 2020,5and then turned it into an "order" at the end of January 2021.6As noted by Leslie Manookian with the HFDF: "When flight attendants announced repeatedly on each flight that compliance is required 'by federal law,' did you ever wonder: what federal law? The federal Transportation Safety Administration is still requiring masks on public transportation until Friday, March 18. More: COVID set to resurge in Ohio unless more are vaccinated Brenner's proposed ban on mask mandates at schools won't be in place before the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Several other states had local mask mandates, or mandates that only . STATEWIDE MASK ORDER Governor DeWine announced that beginning on Thursday, July 23, at 6:00 p.m., a statewide mask mandate will go into effect for citizens living in all 88 Ohio counties. As of Sunday, most Ohio counties still have high or substantial community spread, per the CDC. Mike DeWine to do so. It finally admitted in early May 2021 that SARS-CoV-2 was airborne.30The Washington Post wrote:31. Official data shows that by the end of 2022, Hong Kong had issued more than 22,000 tickets . There is zero downside to wearing a mask, said Dr. Rustin Morse, chief medical officer at Nationwide Childrens Hospital, who appeared alongside health officials Thursday. We werent prepared for how sick he would be so fast. The city's leader, John Lee, says masks . 08/08/20Executive Order 2020-31DThe Partial Recission of Executive Order 2020-21D and Emergency Adoption of Rules 5101:2-12-02.2, 5101:2-13-02.2, 5101:2-14-02.2, and 5101:2-18-03.1 of the Ohio Administartive Code by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Among them: Comparisons of infection rates (positive test rates) before and after the implementation of universal mask mandates also showed masks mandates had no beneficial effect whatsoever.26In one investigation,27states with mask mandates were found to have an average of 27 positive SARS-CoV-2 "cases" per 100,000 people, whereas states with no mask mandates had just 17 cases per 100,000. (COLUMBUS, Ohio)Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Dr. Mercola, Lewis Herms Discusses U.K. Gov. Education Delivery Models and Mask Policies for School Year 2021-2022 The Department's Schools Dashboard incorporates multiple information sources to build an understanding of the Education Delivery Models and Mask Policies in use for each traditional public school district. Administration members Carolyn Gregory and Lou Stark reported the university's positivity rate as less than 1%a significant drop from 5% a month ago. Others have said they will, too. Mike DeWine said he doesn't have any intention of issuing another mask mandate in Ohio, but he issued a stern warning to schools as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations set new pandemic . Hong Kong will lift its mask mandate Wednesday, March 1, 2023, ending the city's last major restriction imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. . It will be on June 2. Business and congregate settingsBusinesses may continue to require mitigation measures such as masking and social distancing. OHIO community members may wear both a face shield and an acceptable face covering, but not a face shield alone. Some districts . Supreme Court to hear arguments on Bidens Covid vaccine mandates, to require that businesses with 100 or more employees. "I have considered authoritative medical evidence that questions the necessity of mandatory masking in our schools. So what does it all mean?More than 4.6 million Ohioans are now fully vaccinated, but businesses and schools will still be able to require masks and social distancing, if they choose to do so. Support local journalism by becoming a member. Ohio's Capital City Drops Mask Mandate as COVID Cases Fall. Despite their availability over the last seven months, less than half the state is vaccinated against COVID-19. And it led us at theHealth Freedom Defense Fundto filesuitagainst the mandate in federal court. OSU announced Tuesday that it would end the mandate on Friday in general-purpose buildings, residence halls, dining facilities, classrooms, offices and the Ohio Union. Mike DeWine rescinded the health orders to conform to the Centers for Disease Control. 315N closing permanently, Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, Whats the newest city in the US? The following article was originally published in the Ohio Capital Journal and published on News5Cleveland.com under a content-sharing agreement. OHIO: Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Columbus City Schools made masks optional on March 8. Global Coronavirus Tracker: See map hereData from The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. However, some cities including Columbus have had a mask mandate since September. No. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Family of cold-case victim gets justice after 40, High interest rates, car prices lead to record loans,, Man, woman, 3 kids hit by semi on Ohio Turnpike, Zelensky says more than 70,000 Russian war crimes, House where JonBent Ramsey was found dead up for, Weather Alert Day: Timing out heavy rain, strong, Weather Alert Day: What to expect on Friday, When heavy rain could arrive for central Ohio, Raymont Harris tackles Black mental health, maternal, OSU holds off Michigan in Big Ten quarters, Crew acquire center back ahead of 2023 home opener, Stroud, Smith-Njigba speak at NFL Combine, I-70E ramp to S.R. However, this isnt the only instance of emerging schisms between public health guidance and policy. Its about having respect for people, said John Lewis, a customer News 5 spoke with at the ice cream shop. Mike DeWine says Ohio's mask mandate and most other coronavirus-related state orders will end on June 2. Most Columbus-area schools have removed their mask mandates in recent weeks. 06/08/20 -DirectorsAmendedOrderthatReopensRestaurants,Bars,BanquetandCateringFacilitiesandServicestoDine-inService,withExceptions. In central Ohio, these counties are at medium level: In central Ohio, these counties are at low level: Counties with high transmission, where masks would still be recommended, are Morgan, Ross and Pike. The public, he said, understands the right thing to do, regardless of political actions that limit the public health officials authority. An Ohio.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the State of Ohio. The IDPFR has commanded me to 'toe the line' or suffer personal and professional consequences. CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - County Executive Armond Budish signed an Executive Order requiring masks to be worn in all Cuyahoga County government buildings . /. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio's capital and largest city has dropped its indoor mask mandate as coronavirus cases and . IE 11 is not supported. The new law also prevents schools from treating vaccinated students differently than unvaccinated ones in terms of masking and social distancing. M asks are returning in Ohio's largest city as Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has announced a new mandate for indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status. Unlike July 2020, however, this time they hit a wall. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Ohio 's capital and largest city has dropped its mask mandate amid a continuing fall in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. 31, 2022 at 2:19 PM PDT. The other two are hospital admissions and the percent of hospital beds occupied by COVID patients. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. After public backlash, the agency issued a letter of apology to Henrichs and backpedaled on their inquiry.47But this was far from an isolated case. In response, the lead plaintiff, Health Freedom Defense Fund (HFDF), issued the following statement:14, "DoJ's statement is perplexing to say the least and sounds like it comes from health policy advocates not government lawyers. Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus. Columbus' mask mandate had covered all indoor public spaces in city limits and applied to everyone, regardless of vaccination status. And on Tuesday, Columbus City Schools will no longer require masks in buildings or on buses. In the Order, Director McCloud references Ohio Governor DeWine's recent announcement that nearly all Ohio health orders will be rescinded on June 2, 2021. The fact that the CDC and White House have been doing what they know they cannot legally do says a lot about the state of our nation. Many other health authorities have also violated and broken our trust, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which parents rely on for truthful information to protect the health and well-being of their children. Visit our Vaccinating Ohio page for the latest updates on Ohio's vaccination program, including links to sign up for a vaccine appointment, a map of nearby vaccination sites, a detailed breakdown of the state's current vaccine phase, and continuing local coverage of COVID-19 vaccines in Northeast Ohio. Hundreds also experienced "accelerated respiration, tightness in chest, weakness and short-term impairment of consciousness. Public Health Orders Expand All Sections Introduction Read public health and executive orders signed by the Governor and Ohio Department of Health Director in response to COVID-19. It applies to all of the state's Covid-19 orders such as distancing. Dr. Veena Satyapriya, a physician at OSU Wexner Medical Center, shared a cautionary tale of the implications of skipping on vaccination. Only 15 of the states 88 counties are at a high level: a cluster in west-central Ohio and several on or near the Ohio River in the southern and eastern parts of the state. The legislation, Senate Bill 22, says that any health order from a . Physicians aren't the only ones who have been hunted down for their views. Mazzola, who is also the president of the board of the Association of Ohio Health Commissioners, downplayed schisms between public health guidance and state policy. Gov. Thank you to President Biden and Governor Hochul for getting us to this point. 06/05/20 -Third Amended Directors Order to Limit Access to Ohios Nursing Homes and Similar Facilities, with Exceptions, 06/04/20 -Directors Order that Reopens Youth Day Camps and Residential Camps, with Exceptions, 05/29/20 -Directors Order that Reopens Facilities Providing Child Care Services, with Exceptions, 05/29/20 -Directors Order that Rescinds the Directors Order that the Sale of Spirituous Liquor be Restricted in Certain Instances in Certain Counties, 05/28/20 -Testing of the Residents and Staff of all Nursing Homes, 05/22/20 -Third Amended Order the Closure of All K-12 Schools in the State of Ohio, 05/20/20 -Directors Order that Rescinds and Modifies Portions of the Stay Safe Ohio Order, 05/20/20 - Urgent Health Advisory - Ohioans Protecting Ohioans, 05/14/20 Director's Order that Reopens Personal Services, 05/14/20Directors Order to Laboratories in Ohio to Report Results of COVID19 TestsDirectors Order to Laboratories in Ohio to Report Results of COVID19 Tests, 05/01/20Directors Order that Reopens Businesses, with Exceptions, and Continues a Stay healthy and Safe at Home Order, 06/18/21Executive Order 2021-09DThe Emergency Adoption of Rule 173-1-04 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Department of Aging, 06/18/21Executive Order 2021-08DRescinding Executive Order 2020-01D and Ending the Declared State of Emergency, 06/17/21 Executive Order 2021-07DThe Emergency Amendment of Rules 5123-9-06, 5123-9-14, 5123-9-17, 5123-9-33, and 5123-9-39 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, 08/25/20Executive Order 2020-35DThe Rescission of Executive Orders 2020-21D and 2020-31D, Creation of the Temporary Pandemic School-Age Child Care Center License, Emergency Amendment of Rules 5101:2-16-09 and 5101:2-16-10 and Emergency Adoption of Rules 5101:2-12-02.2, 5101:2-12-02.3, 5101:2-13-02.2, 5101:2-14-02.2 and 5101:2-18-03.1 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. This marks one of the first tangible effects of the legislation, which critics called a naked attack on public health, to play out during an ongoing and now again worsening pandemic. CLEVELAND Ohios COVID-19 health orders, including the mask mandate, have been lifted on June 2. He said he will issue an executive order . 2 min read. According toWBNS-10TV, Worthington's mask requirement will lift Thursday. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. What You Need To Know The arguments before the court come as the highly transmissible omicron variant has swept rapidly across the country. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File) A sign requiring masks as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus is posted on a store front in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (WSYX) COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) . Chief Justice Maureen OConnor, a Republican, oversees administration of the court. Yes. Others have lifted the mandates in schools. Commuters wearing face masks browse their smartphones as they ride on a subway train in Hong Kong on Feb. 7, 2023. Columbus City Council was one of the last school districts to require masks, a rule that ended Tuesday. Orders rescindedLate Tuesday, DeWine announced that Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud had signed an order rescinding the following health orders, effective at midnight: The following orders, according to the governor, will remain in effect: Mask mandateWith the order now lifted, fully vaccinated individuals will no longer be required to wear a mask and will be allowed to resume most activities without social distancing.