During a virtual conference call from Columbus on Monday, Ohio's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said the science behind the delta variant of COVID-19 is clear."It simply takes less of this virus to spread from the mouth or nose of an infected person to that of another non-infected person," Vanderhoff said.Because of that, Ohio's Department of Health wants young people and adults who have a connection to a school and who can get vaccinated to roll up their sleeves. If not, ODH wants to see masks back on faces this fall."We also strongly recommend that everyone in schools who is unvaccinated - students, teachers, staff, volunteers coaches.. wear masks indoors and outdoors when maintaining proper distance simply isn't possible," Vanderhoff said.That means Ohio's Health Department would like to see every student who's 11 or younger wear a face covering.Gov. Mike DeWine also weighed in, saying the use of face coverings this past school year kept COVID-19 outbreaks at bay. But DeWine is convinced the public does not want more mandates, which means mask rules will vary from district to district."Schools will make the decision," DeWine said. "Parents will make the decision, whether their individual child is going to wear that mask if a school doesn't elect to do it. But the evidence is just absolutely overwhelming. I desperately want to see our kids in school this year."At the Cincinnati Public School District, board members are still considering whether to require students to wear masks this fall. Monday's guidance from Ohio's health department does pave the way for districts to let vaccinated students 12 and older leave their masks at home.
During a virtual conference call from Columbus on Monday, Ohio's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said the science behind the delta variant of COVID-19 is clear.
"It simply takes less of this virus to spread from the mouth or nose of an infected person to that of another non-infected person," Vanderhoff said.
Because of that, Ohio's Department of Health wants young people and adults who have a connection to a school and who can get vaccinated to roll up their sleeves. If not, ODH wants to see masks back on faces this fall.
"We also strongly recommend that everyone in schools who is unvaccinated - students, teachers, staff, volunteers coaches.. wear masks indoors and outdoors when maintaining proper distance simply isn't possible," Vanderhoff said.
That means Ohio's Health Department would like to see every student who's 11 or younger wear a face covering.
Gov. Mike DeWine also weighed in, saying the use of face coverings this past school year kept COVID-19 outbreaks at bay. But DeWine is convinced the public does not want more mandates, which means mask rules will vary from district to district.
"Schools will make the decision," DeWine said. "Parents will make the decision, whether their individual child is going to wear that mask if a school doesn't elect to do it. But the evidence is just absolutely overwhelming. I desperately want to see our kids in school this year."
At the Cincinnati Public School District, board members are still considering whether to require students to wear masks this fall. Monday's guidance from Ohio's health department does pave the way for districts to let vaccinated students 12 and older leave their masks at home.
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