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Many Ohio Businesses Won't Likely Require Masks To Combat Delta Strain Of COVID

Now that the Centers for Disease Control has advised all Americans, vaccinated or not, to wear masks indoors to prevent spread of the highly-contagious delta variant, what will Ohio businesses and government do? 

In a written statement, the Ohio Department of Health reiterated Gov. Mike DeWine’s earlier comment that there isn't an appetite for another mask mandate right now, regardless of the new CDC guidance. The Ohio Statehouse said it won’t order masks unless the governor or health department mandates it. Ohio businesses could put a mask requirement in place but John Barker with the Ohio Restaurant Association said many won’t, minus a government order.  

“It’s very difficult to police this, Jo. In restaurants, you have people who are trying to serve food, seat tables, clean plates and things like that. It’s very hard to also be the police on these kinds of things," Barker said.

But some public school districts, including Columbus, Cleveland and Akron, are telling teachers and students they must wear masks during this upcoming school year. Some local health officials are urging more to do it. 

 
Copyright 2021 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment.