DeWine’s mandate: Mask up, Trumbull County!

COLUMBUS — Gov. Mike DeWine is the latest Republican governor to do an about-face on statewide mask policy due to surging coronavirus cases.

After Ohio added nearly 13,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the last two weeks, DeWine reversed his previously reversed stance and mandated masks for seven counties in Level 3 of the state’s new coronavirus alert system.

Currently, that includes: Butler, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Huron, Montgomery and Trumbull counties. During Tuesday's briefing, DeWine described the situation in the counties as "very frightening."

Tuesday's announcement was the latest twist in the evolution of the state's reluctant mask policy.

In late April, DeWine issued an order requiring face coverings in public. On April 28, he walked it back, citing critics who found the measure “offensive.” He has since been pleading with Ohioans to wear masks, much to the dismay of Republicans in the Ohio House, who have attempted to ban mask requirements.

On Tuesday, DeWine put it bluntly: "What's at stake here is the lives of Ohioans. This is a matter of life and death."

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted echoed DeWine as he launched a new social media campaign — #IWantASeason — to encourage athletes, teams, and fans to take coronavirus precautions seriously. Without the slow of the spread of the virus, normalcy won't return to the sports world any time soon, he warned.

“One of the many reasons that I continue to practice social distancing and am wearing a mask in public is because I want a season, too,” Husted said..

DeWine isn't the only Republican governor forced to reconsider the state's stance on masks In the face of surging coronavirus cases.

On July 2, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texans to wear masks in public, in response to the state's surging case numbers. The announcement came after pleas from leaders in the state's largest cities.

DeWine's order, which goes into effect Wednesday at 6 p.m., requires masks for any indoor location, aside from residences, while a county remains in the red alert phase.

Local officials are hopeful the measure will help put a lid on the spike in Trumbull County.

As of Tuesday, there have been 999 COVID-19 cases in Trumbull County that have resulted in 76 deaths. Only seven days into July, the county added 147 cases.

Kristofer Wilster, director of environmental health for the Trumbull County Combined Health District, on Tuesday awaited the release of the full order, hoping it would "turn up the heat" on establishments that have received complaints for non-compliance with mask and distancing guidelines.

Health officials can reiterate the state's guidance and urge operators to "try to do the right thing," but there aren't any direct enforcement powers for health officials, he said.

Violations of the order will result in a misdemeanor; the order will be enforced by local law enforcement officials.

"We're not looking to see a lot of people arrested," DeWine said.

Jeff Burke, owner of Record Connection in Niles, was planning to make masks mandatory for upcoming Record Store Day on Aug. 29.

Since reopening the store May 12, he noticed most customers wear masks or ask if they are mandatory. So, the new state policy won't bring big changes to the store.

"We'll put a sign up on the door," Burke said.

State Rep. Michael O'Brien, D-Warren, released a statement Tuesday in support of the measure.

“We don’t wear face masks to protect ourselves but to protect others. While the coronavirus cases in Trumbull County continue to spiral upward, wearing face masks is the responsible and caring thing to do for our neighbors, coworkers, business and retail employees and family members,” O’Brien said.

After learning about the state's new alert system and Trumbull County's Level 3 status, Beth Carmichael, executive director of Trumbull County Tourism Bureau, said the bureau paused its digital marketing campaign.

The project aimed to provide summer options for people who aren't comfortable traveling far or by plane.

"We don't feel comfortable inviting people to experience all that we have here in Trumbull County," said Carmichael. "We want to be a responsible business. We want to be responsible community members."

Other coronavirus news

• According to the latest figures Tuesday from the Ohio Department of Health, the state is reporting 55,150 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. There have been 1,849 confirmed cases in Mahoning County; 974 in Trumbull County; and 1,306 in Columbiana County.

• Statewide, there have been 2,718 confirmed deaths, including 238 in Mahoning County; 73 in Trumbull; and 60 in Columbiana. Mahoning County's 238 reported COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday was fourth among Ohio's 88 counties; Franklin County had the most with 431.

• In nearby counties: Stark, 1,133 cases and 113 deaths; Portage, 449 cases and 59 deaths; and Ashtabula, 436 cases and 44 deaths.

• According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday, there are 91,299 COVID-19 cases in the state which have led to 6,787 deaths. The state said the recovery rate is 77 percent. There have been 159 cases in Mercer County and 6 deaths; 129 cases in Lawrence County and 9 deaths.

• The 174th Canfield Fair will not be open to the public, the fair board announced Tuesday. The event will be limited to the Junior Fair, as "conducting the full fair is not possible" given the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had a plan in place [for social distancing] but it just became increasingly more difficult to make those plans work,” said George Roman III, the fair's director of advertising and grandstand, concessions and special attractions.

• Starting July 20, the Youngstown Water Department will resume its standard collection procedures, including disconnection for nonpayment. The OEPA is ending the moratorium on water utility shutoffs Friday. The YWD suspended all disconnections for March, April, May and June, waived all fees and penalties and restored service to disconnected customers.

• A community forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at Canfield's Fair Park to discuss how the city is addressing diversity, policing and progress. Members of the community will have an opportunity to speak with city leaders and members of the police and fire departments and school board.

• ONE Health Ohio will offer drive-thru COVID-19 testing — for anyone at least 10 years old — from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at RISE Recovery, 3132 Belmont Ave. Participants must pre-register by calling 330-884-6122.

This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 3:52 AM with the headline "DeWine’s mandate: Mask up, Trumbull County!."