COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Ohio’s chief medical officer shared guidance Monday on COVID-19 and the upcoming school year, including the return of facemasks for those who are not vaccinated.
Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff of the Ohio Department of Health said the recommendations are three-layered. Those layers are:
- Strongly recommend that eligible students and staff be vaccinated against COVID-19
- Strongly recommend that those who are unvaccinated wear facemasks
- Improved ventilation and wide availability of hand-sanitizer
The vaccine has been authorized for those 12 and older.
Vanderhoff said the recommendations do not include any mandates, and that the full recommendations would be released no later than Tuesday.
Masks are recommended when indoors and when proper distancing isn’t possible outdoors.
Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended masks in schools for anyone older than 2 regardless of vaccination status unless other conditions prohibit their use. On Friday, Columbus City Schools said they would require masking to begin the school year.
