60% Of Ohioans Will Soon Be Under Mask Mandate

COLUMBUS, OH — Nineteen Ohio counties are now classified as "red" counties for their COVID-19 spread.

Many of the "red" counties are home to major Ohio cities, like Cleveland and Columbus. Approximately 60 percent of the Ohio population will be under a mask mandate by 6 p.m. on Friday, Gov. Mike DeWine said.

"Now is the time to cut [COVID-19] off," DeWine added Thursday.

A "red" designation indicates there is a "very high" rate of COVID-19 spread within that county. Residents of those counties are encouraged to remain home as much as possible and must wear masks in public spaces.

Red is associated with Level 3 of the state's new COVID-19 public health alert system. No counties have yet been classified as Level 4, or purple, meaning there is "severe spread" of the virus locally. It is not yet clear what new mandates or health protocols would be implemented in purples counties.

Here are the counties that are newly classified as red:

• Athens

• Allen

• Delaware

• Licking

• Lucas

• Richland

• Scioto

• Union

Counties newly classified as "red" will implement mask mandates at 6 p.m. on Friday.

Here are the counties that remain red this week:

• Butler

• Hamilton

• Cuyahoga

• Clermont

• Montgomery

• Franklin

• Pickaway

• Fairfield

• Lorain

• Summit

• Wood

On Wednesday evening, DeWine delivered an impassioned plea to Ohioans urging them to wear masks and warning of possible economic shutdowns if the virus continues to spread rapidly.

This article originally appeared on the Across Ohio Patch