Ohio Supreme Court re-institutes mask mandate as Columbus COVID-19 cases rise

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Supreme Courtroom has re-implemented a masks mandate for guests, hours after well being officers in Columbus and Franklin County issued a masks advisory in response to domestically rising COVID-19 numbers.

The court docket introduced the masks mandate, which works additional than the advisory beneficial by native well being officers, on its social media accounts on Friday afternoon. Courtroom officers couldn’t be reached for added info.

The announcement stated that the mandate was efficient instantly and can be in place “till additional discover.” Masks can be supplied on the court docket’s entrance, the announcement stated.

Well being officers in Columbus and Franklin County announced the mask advisory after native case numbers exceeded the brink underneath which the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management considers to be excessive neighborhood transmission.

As a separate department of presidency, the court docket is run individually from the governor’s workplace and the state legislature. Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, a Republican, oversees administration of the court docket.