CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish issued a countywide mask advisory that strongly urges face coverings to be worn inside public buildings regardless of vaccination status. 

What You Need To Know

  • Cuyahoga County is encouraging businesses and municipalities to require masks indoors

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there is a high spread of COVID-19 in all 88 Ohio counties

  • Masking is recommended by the CDC in indoor settings in any county with high or substantial spread of COVID-19

  • Health officials expressed concern that the continued spread of COVID-19 along with the expected annual increase in other viruses could strain hospital resources

The advisory stops short of a mask mandate, which some areas, including the city of Columbus, have implemented in recent days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages those who live in areas of high or substantial COVID-19 spread to wear face coverings while indoors. The CDC says that masks are effective at reducing the spread of the coronavirus.

The issue of mandatory mask wearing has become a contentious political issue for local boards of education. Budish’s message was similar to that of Gov. Mike DeWine, who earlier this week also called on schools to require face coverings.

"We urge our businesses and municipalities to enforce the use of masks in all buildings,” Budish said. “And we urge schools to require masks for all students and staff so that kids can stay safe and learning in school."

According to the Ohio Department of Health, COVID-19 cases are up significantly from the early summer lull in Cuyahoga County. There has also been a rise in hospitalizations and deaths from the start of the summer, but remain at lower levels than compared to the start of the year. 

The CDC says that Cuyahoga County is among the 93% of U.S. counties with high spread of COVID-19. 

County Health Commissioner Terry Allan said he’s concerned of the high level of COVID-19 spread given that other respiratory viruses that also strain hospital resources such as the flu and RSV start circulating in the fall. The county reports 80% of its hospital beds are being utilized, a figure that has remained steady throughout the summer even as COVID-19 cases dropped. 

“If you want to keep our schools and workplaces open, we must meet the imperative to vaccinate more people now and embrace universal masking in all indoor environments when around others,” Allan said. “If you are unmasked and unvaccinated indoors and around others, your risk of contracting COVID is very high and will remain so throughout the fall.”

Budish added that the county is still evaluating President Joe Biden’s announcement that employers with 100 or more workers would soon be required to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly tests. 

“President Biden just mandated all private employers with more than 100 workers require them to be vaccinated or they must be tested for COVID weekly,” Budish said. “We’re looking at possibilities for county employees, but keep in mind we have more than 30 unions to discuss this with.

Budish said that the county will continue offering $100 vaccine bonuses for employees, and that those on Medicaid are also eligible for a $100 incentive. 

 

Related Stories