#MasksOn Hamilton County

State Health Director requires masks to be worn in public in Hamilton County

Ohio Public Health Advisory SystemEffective on July 8, 2020 at 6:00 p.m., facial masks will be required in public in Hamilton County. Recently, Governor Mike DeWine announced that all red counties in the State of Ohio will have a facial mask mandate until further notice. 

Those in counties designated as Red Alert Level 3 or Purple Alert Level 4 are required to wear a face covering:

  • in any indoor location that is not a residence;
  • when outdoors and unable to consistently maintain a distance of six feet or more from individuals who are not members of their household;
  • while waiting for, riding, driving, or operating public transportation, ride-sharing vehicle as in a taxi or Uber.

The order does not apply to children under the age of 10 or any other person unable to safely wear a mask. The order also reflects the mask guidance in place for employees and businesses which does not require a person to wear a mask if their physician advises against it, if wearing a mask is prohibited by federal regulation, if communicating with the hearing impaired, when alone in an office or personal workspace, and other similar measures. 

“I applaud Governor DeWine’s order mandating mask use,” said Commission President Denise Driehaus.  “Masking up helps keep our loved ones safe and our businesses open. We have been working with the Governor in recent days on an approach that is streamlined and consistent throughout Hamilton County, and support this step to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.” 

“I truly believe that this is not about us as government or police officers running around trying to catch people. I really believe this is about us as individuals taking personal responsibility and following the new Director of Health’s order to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman.   

Kesterman compared wearing a mask to wearing a seat belt.

“Wearing seat belts saves lives. If we are choosing to wear masks, we are choosing to save lives. It’s about making mask wearing the new normal.”

For more information on the state’s order, visit https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home.

Posted on 07/08/2020