CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish said he is signing an order that will require masks in all county government buildings starting Thursday. 

Budish’s announcement comes as COVID-19 cases are increasing again both locally and nationally. The announcement also comes a week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that the public wear face coverings regardless of vaccination status. 

While Budish’s order does not apply to private business, the county executive is encouraging businesses to mandate masks indoors. Private businesses in Cuyahoga County have not been subject to a mask mandate since Ohio lifted its state of emergency in early June. 

“I know we are tired of this. I’m like you. I’m vaccinated and I was enjoying getting out without a mask,” Budish said. “But now is not the time to let up on our hard work to combat this virus.”

Budish noted there have been increased COVID-19 cases within the county. Ohio Department of Health data shows that Cuyahoga County has had a bump in cases and hospitalizations, but those figures remain far below the totals from the December and January peak of the spread of COVID-19. 

Last week, the CDC issued updated guidance recommending to those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to wear a mask in indoor public spaces where coronavirus spread is considered high or substantial. The CDC said on Wednesday that nearly 80% of counties throughout the U.S. have high or substantial spread of the virus.

On Monday, Cuyahoga joined a growing list of counties with a substantial number of COVID-19 cases. As of Wednesday, 70 of Ohio’s 88 counties have at least a substantial spread of COVID-19. Substantial spread of COVID-19 means a county has 50-99.99 total new cases per 100,000 persons in the past seven days. Counties with a high spread of COVID-19 have had at least 100 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people in the past seven days.