CLEVELAND, Ohio – Amid spiking coronavirus cases in Montgomery County, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley announced a mask requirement for everyone in the city.
The announcement from Whaley comes on the heels of a surge in cases statewide, with newly confirmed cases in Ohio reaching more than 1,000 on Wednesday – the highest count since April. Whaley, a Democrat, is the first mayor of a major Ohio city to require mask wearing in public.
Southwest Ohio is driving much of the spike in coronavirus cases in the state, including a 66% increase in Montgomery County over the past two weeks. In a Wednesday press conference, Whaley said Dayton residents would be required to wear masks in public settings to help curb that spike.
“I know that, unfortunately, wearing a mask has become a political flash point,” Whaley said. “But I also know that masks save lives. Masks are incredibly effective in reducing the spread of this virus. Masks are a small sacrifice that we can all make to take care of one another and to keep our businesses open as we continue to weather this storm.”
Whaley said there will be exceptions, such as for children under 6 and people who are unable to wear masks because of medical conditions or developmental disabilities. Masks would not be required for activities where it would be prohibitive, such as swimming or a visit to the dentist.
As part of the plan, the city distributed masks to businesses and other public places.
“The whole thought is if you go into a public space, there will be masks right there that are disposable,” Whaley said. “We have distributed, right now, 45,000 masks to do that.”
Whaley likened it to a “no shoes, no shirt” policy requiring some level of clothing in businesses. She said she did not envision authorities being the main enforcement mechanism, with business owners taking the lead.
The measure is set to go before the Dayton City Council Wednesday night. Whaley said she has support from council members for its passage. It will take effect starting 8 a.m. Friday.
Masks are one of the easiest and least invasive measures individuals can take to stop the spread of coronavirus. While they do not fully protect the wearer from inhaling the respiratory droplets carrying virus, they have been shown to stop the wearer from spreading the virus to others.
But they’ve become a politicized issue for some, with Republicans generally questioning mask wearing and the science behind it.
Statehouse Republicans have especially ignored the warnings from health officials, with the majority of the Republican caucus choosing to not wear masks in a public setting. Allies of Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder have been particularly adversarial toward any mask requirement.
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is one of the few elected Republicans in the state who makes a point of routinely wearing a mask and advocating for the public to follow suit.
He originally announced a mask requirement as part of the reopening process, though he buckled to political pressure just one day later, removing the order. At the time, he said the order would have gone too far and the public would not have accepted it. Masks are still required for employees statewide, with some exceptions.
“It’s an appropriate and welcome response to increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in their area,” DeWine said in a statement. “Masks are recommended by the CDC and medical professionals to help protect other people. Wearing a mask will allow us to help keep businesses open and help prevent further spikes. I encourage other communities to consider following Dayton’s lead.”
The governor is slated to give an update on revisions of state coronavirus orders on Thursday.