COVID-19 mask guidance in Ohio, per new CDC rules

Columbus City Council is likely to rescind our months-long citywide indoor mask mandate tonight.

• And on Tuesday, Columbus City Schools will no longer require masks in buildings or on buses.

What’s happening: When discussing unmasking, leaders cite decreasing community COVID-19 cases and new CDC guidance that ranks counties on a “low, medium, high” scale.

Zoom in: Franklin County is at a “medium” threat level, and the CDC only recommends masks at a “high” ranking.

• Just over a week after the new recommendation’s release, much of Ohio has improved to a “low” level.

Yes, but: Vulnerable people should still be careful. As of Sunday, most Ohio counties still have high or substantial community spread, per the CDC.

• Before the new three-tiered system took effect, that would’ve triggered a mask recommendation for such areas.
• But the CDC is now using three metrics to determine its new rankings. The other two are hospital admissions and the percent of hospital beds occupied by COVID patients.