COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohioans are required to wear a mask when out in public or in a place where they are unable to socially distance as a statewide mandate began Thursday at 6 p.m.
Gov. Mike DeWine announced the order on Wednesday to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
The mandate applies for everyone 10 and older.
"Wearing masks will make a difference. It will determine what our fall looks like. We want kids to go back to school, we want to see sports -- to do that it's very important that all Ohioans wear a mask," DeWine said.
In recent weeks, DeWine introduced a high-risk alert system for Ohio which requires any county at Level 3 to be mandated to wear masks in public. Wednesday's announcement expanded the mandate to all counties.
Aside from children under 10, the governor announced other exceptions for the mandate:
- Those with a medical condition or a disability or those communicating with someone with a disability
- Those who are actively exercising or playing sports
- Those who are officiants at religious services
- Those who are actively involved in public safety
- Those who are actively eating or drinking
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For more information on Ohio's response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.