On August 4, Governor Mike DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Health is issuing a health order requiring that K-12 children wear face coverings while at school. The new mandate comes after the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association and the Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics issued a joint letter recommending widespread use of masks in schools with the following exceptions:
- Children under the age of 2 years old
- Any child unable to remove the face covering without assistance
- A child with a significant behavioral/psychological issue undergoing treatment that is exacerbated specifically by the use of a facial covering (e.g. severe anxiety or a tactile aversion)
- A child living with severe autism or with extreme developmental delay who may become agitated or anxious wearing a mask
- A child with a facial deformity that causes airway obstruction.
“Without a vaccine, we are limited in the ways that we can protect the people of Ohio,” said Gov. DeWine. “For schools to have a fighting chance to stay open this fall, widespread face coverings for K-12 students will increase the odds that kids will go to school and stay in school.”
When will the OAFP come out and state protecting your eyes, nose and mouth are critical for preventing COVID-19 for both adults and children! Shields on, masks off for children (and staff), as compliance is and will be abysmal and promotes touching the face toooo much contaminating the mask.