Ohio’s Updated COVID Orders Need Face Masks

Ohio’s Updated COVID Orders Need Face Masks

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The claim: masks are no longer mandatory in Ohio

As the spread of vaccines builds up across the country, some states are limiting restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Last month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott revoked the state’s mask mandate, which has been in effect since July. In Arizona, Governor Doug Ducey reversed mask mandates and capacity constraints.

Health officials, including the country’s leading infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, and director Rochelle Walensky of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have urged and expressed concern that curbing premature restrictions is another wave of the virus can cause.

Social media users are spreading a Facebook post claiming that Ohio has also revoked the masks of the mask.

The message includes a photo of an April 5 order from the Ohio Department of Health, with a caption that reads: ‘Read # 9 masks are no longer mandatory in Ohio, but DeWine says nothing before he wants us it should not wear !!! “The report refers to the Government of Ohio, Mike DeWine.

USA TODAY released the poster for comment.

Fact check: Viral photo of migrant detention center without masks is from 2014

Masks remain mandatory in Ohio

Although the order the report cites is authentic, it is misleading about the changes that have been made to the coronavirus restrictions in Ohio.

Ohio Department of Health the false claims addressed on April 8 on Twitter.

“We are correcting incorrect information about our mask mandate. Although several orders were revoked when the new social distancing / face covering / non-congregational order was issued, masks remain necessary until we reach 50 cases per 100,000 for a period of two weeks.”

Older orders, such as the July 2020 mask mandate, were revoked on April 5 to update and consolidate restrictions to make it easier for residents to understand.

A new order was released the same day. It still requires individuals to wear face masks when they are indoors, when they are outdoors without the space of 6 feet to social distance, and when using other public services such as transportation or driving together.

“Everyone should wear a mask when talking to others outside their household. Face masks are an effective weapon in the fight against COVID-19,” the preamble reads.

The order includes guidance for gatherings, social distance and sanitation.

Our verdict: False

The claim that Ohio no longer has a mask mandate is FALSE. Ohio revoked previous orders and on the same day issued new restrictions and guidance. According to the state, masks will be needed until the state reaches ’50 cases per 100,000 for a period of two weeks’.

Our sources for fact checking:

  • USA TODAY, March 31, “US COVID-19 Map: Detecting Cases and Deaths”
  • USA TODAY, March 2, “Governor Greg Abbott ends mandate for full mask, goes to ‘open Texas 100%’ – actions against health experts, federal officials”
  • AZCentral, March 25, “Governor Doug Ducey lifts all remaining COVID-19 restrictions on businesses and opportunities in Arizona”
  • C-SPAN, March 29, “CDC Director Rochelle Walensky:” Right now I’m scared, ‘about rising COVID-19 cases in the US’
  • Ohio Department of Health, April 5, “Re: Director’s Order Rescilling Various Orders”
  • Department of Health in Ohio, April 5, “Director’s Order for Social Distancing, Face Coverings and Non-Congregating”
  • Ohio Department of Health Twitter, April 5

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