Cincinnati mayor recommends city employees mask indoors due to rising COVID-19 levels

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval says the city is making a formal recommendation for city employees to start wearing masks indoors due to rising COVID-19 rates.The recommendation comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified Hamilton County as having “High” COVID-19 community spread.The CDC looks at the combination of three metrics — new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days — to determine the COVID-19 community level. It also comes after large gatherings downtown over the weekend for Cincinnati Music Festival at Paul Brown Stadium. County health officials said being inside is the focus, because the BA.5 omicron variant accounts for 78% of the new cases in the region. “We have seen a sharp rise in COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates, and in accordance with the CDC’s current recommendations for Hamilton County, we as a city are making a formal recommendation for employees in all departments to begin wearing a mask while indoors,” Pureval said. “I am personally masking in indoor public settings until the situation improves, and I strongly encourage all residents to practice good judgment – getting vaccinated, getting boosted, and wearing a mask to protect those around you. Supporting each other and exercising caution will help us get through this wave with a healthy and strong community.” The city is recommending departments: Consider virtual meetings when possible Encourage masks indoors regardless of vaccination status when in group settings and where distancing is unable to be maintained Encourage employees to stay home when sick Encourage employees to seek testing when presenting with symptoms If an employee has COVID-19 or may have been exposed, report using the following link and receive recommendations from the Health Department for isolation and quarantine: Report outbreaks to COVID.CHD@cincinnati-oh.gov https://redcap.research.cchmc.org/surveys/?s=3KY4M7YHAFNFRYAK The City Manager strongly encourages the following for individual employees: If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease Consider self-testing to detect infection before contact Consider wearing a mask when indoors with them Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines Wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation If one is at high risk for severe illness, consider wearing a mask indoors in public and take additional precautions The Cincinnati Health Department continues to provide access to COVID-19 vaccines and testing at its Burnet Campus.