COVID-19 Mandates: Unvaccinated Ohioans Must Still Wear Masks

OHIO — Ohio's statewide mask mandate will be removed Wednesday...for Ohioans who have been vaccinated against the virus.

Individual businesses and school districts can implement their own mask policies, and unvaccinated Ohioans must continue to wear masks in public, Gov. Mike DeWine reminded residents on Tuesday.

“It’s important that those not fully vaccinated continue to wear masks indoors and follow other preventative measures to keep themselves as healthy as possible,” DeWine said.

No vaccines have been approved for use in children younger than 12, DeWine noted. And only 5.3 million of Ohio's 11.7 million residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Only 4.6 million Ohioans have completed the vaccination process.

A person is considered completely vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“Ohioans have done a great job during the pandemic. And, with more than 5 million Ohioans who have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, we are getting back to living the lives we want. However, it is important that we all still remember that there are a significant number of Ohioans who remain unvaccinated and are at-risk, including everyone under the age of 12," DeWine said.

Vaccination rates began to slow in late April and early May in Ohio, prompting DeWine and other state officials to unveil the Vax-a-Million lottery program.

Five Ohioans, who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, will be randomly selected to win $1 million through the Vax-a-Million program. Ohioans younger than 18 can win a college scholarship through the lottery.

The first Vax-a-Million winner was announced last week and the second winner will be announced Wednesday. Three additional winners will be announced in coming weeks, and Ohioans still have time to get vaccinated and register for the lottery.