CINCINNATI — As COVID-19 cases spike across Hamilton County, local leaders urge football fans to wear a mask and use caution during this weekend’s Cincinnati Bengals playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium.

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said he'll tailgate before the 4:30 p.m. Saturday showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders. He also plans to attend the game. Even though both events are outdoors, he said he'll wear a mask.

That's something he feels all fans should do, even if they're not required to do so.

As of Wednesday afternoon, masks are optional at Paul Brown Stadium and proof of vaccination will not be required for Saturday's game, according to a spokesperson for the Bengals.

"Look, if you are vaccinated, if you are boosted, if you are wearing a mask, going to the Bengals game should be a safe activity," he said after congratulating the team on their AFC North championship. "If you've taken the responsible precautions to do those things — getting vaccinated, getting boosted and getting a mask — then, I think, you should feel comfortable doing it."

He went to say that anyone who hasn't taken those precautions should reconsider their plans.

"If you are unvaccinated, you're putting yourself at risk and you're putting the community at risk," he added.

Pureval made the announcement Wednesday surrounded by city officials and health care professionals as the city of Cincinnati announced a state of emergency declaration that mandates all city employees wear a mask at work. The declaration also requires the public to mask up while inside any city facility, whether that's City Hall, a police station or Krohn Conservatory.

The announcement came on the heels of Hamilton County declaring a state of emeergency of its own. As of Tuesday, the county had more active cases of COVID-19 than at any time in the nearly two years since the pandemic started. The local positivity rate for COVID tests is 25.25%. Ohio Department of Health data shows that there have been more than 14,000 confirmed new cases in Hamilton County in the first 11 days of this month.

"Positive cases are as high as they’ve ever been. Hospitalizations are as high as they’ve ever been. And the death rate is nearly as high as it’s ever been. So, that’s where we’re at,” Commissioner Denise Driehaus said Wednesday morning at a separate press conference.

She was joined by Hamilton County Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman, who echoed Pureval's sentiments about attending the Bengals game.

“I think people need to make some personal assessments on what is safe for their family. If your entire family has been vaccinated and boosted, I think you can potentially go to this game safely," he said.

Kesterman has often spoken about understanding risks when it comes to social gatherings. During the late fall, that meant holiday family gatherings, and now, it means playoff sporting events.

The game is the first Bengals home game in six seasons and many downtown businesses are banking on big day. Paul Brown Stadium holds more than 65,000 fans and other fans are likely to head down to tailgate or take part in activities around the stadium.

"If you're planning on going to the stadium or to a bar, I'd recommend you mask up. I'd recommend, after you take a drink of your beer, to put back on your mask," he said. 

Kesterman told reporters that he wears both a surgical mask and a cloth mask when he’s in a crowded setting.

“When I'm outside and away from people I don't wear a mask. If I'm out by myself, but once I come back into contact with people, I put it back on that mask to help protect myself," he said.

Doing so, Kesterman said, getting vaccinated and wearing a mask is "really a small ask" given the state of COVID-19 in the greater Cincinnati region.

"We know it can make a difference," he said.