The Columbus City Council is planning to vote to lift the Columbus mask mandate relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, based on a recommendation from Columbus Public Health, during its regularly scheduled March 7, 2022, meeting.

During this public health emergency, the Council will continue to work collaboratively with Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts and the experts at Columbus Public Health to ensure residents had all relevant information relating to COVID-19 and masks were required in public places when necessary.

“As we begin to move into a new direction with the COVID-19 pandemic, and numbers continue to decrease in our community, we are able to lift the mask mandate indoors in Columbus,” said Councilmember Shayla Favor, chair of the Public Health Committee.

“I encourage all residents to continue to make smart decisions about their health, get vaccinated, and continue wearing a mask if you’re immunocompromised or have someone at home unable to get vaccinated.”

In making this determination, Columbus Public Health reviewed new guidance from the CDC and determined that Franklin County is currently in a medium level of spread, which would not require masking indoors.

“The pandemic is not over, but the situation has changed, and we are in a new phase,” says Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts.

“It is time to turn our efforts to minimizing the impact COVID-19 has on our health, our healthcare systems and our community, while focusing our efforts on protecting those who are most at risk of severe illness.”

Also, the Council will continue to recommend that everyone able to become vaccinated against COVID-19 do so as soon as possible to minimize their potential illness and to lower the opportunity to spread COVID to others.

“With decreasing case numbers and hospitalizations in Franklin County and across Ohio, we should feel good about where we are in this pandemic, but still vigilant,” said Council President Shannon G. Hardin. “If you’re not vaccinated, please do so as soon as you can, and let’s all move our community ahead of this COVID-era.”