Credit: Mike DeWine holding the enemy of freedom and liberty and the American way/ The Ohio Channel

Update: Around dinnertime this casual Tuesday evening there were clarifications from the governor’s office that this afternoon’s press conference announcement that masks were optional for employees and customers at businesses as they reopen really meant that employees were still required to wear masks but that the recommended practice was optional for customers and clients. This came one day after DeWine said that masks were mandatory for all customers, clients and employees.

The simple solution to this is to abide by best practices and wear a mask when you go into public.

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While the wearing of cloth face masks or face coverings in public settings was initially part of a mandatory series of protocols listed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health for part of the Responsible RestartOhio Plan, that guidance has since been walked back.

In his daily coronavirus press briefing on Tuesday, DeWine said that mask wearing for customers/clients in a public setting is now a recommendation. The Ohio Department of Health has also updated its graphics to reflect the change. 


This is the original graphic from yesterday’s press briefing:

DeWine said the state changed its tone on the masks after receiving feedback from the public.

“Within the last 24 hours, it’s really become clear to me that a mandatory mask requirement for people who are shopping, going into a retail business, is offensive to some of our fellow Ohioans,” DeWine said. “And I understand that.”

“I’ve also heard for some people this is a difficult thing to do,” he continued. “And I got a call last night from a mom, who I did not know, and we had a great conversation. I listened to her. And she talked about her son, who is autistic, and she explained to me how he saw things, how he felt things, and that that (mask wearing) presented a real problem for him.

“And so we made the decision that for retail customers, this is not going to be mandated. The government’s not going to mandate that.”

He added, however, that if you are able to wear a mask in public, it is a strong recommendation that you do so.

If you want to read something well-researched and level-headed about why we should be wearing masks, what the difference is between wearing a mask to protect yourself vs. to protect others, and what various materials provide in terms of protection for both ingress and egress, this Atlantic article is well worth your time.

This article appears in Apr 22-28, 2020.

13 replies on “Gov. DeWine Clarifies That Employees Must Wear Masks But Customers Should But Don’t Have to After Saying Widely Recommended Practice Was Completely Optional Earlier Today One Day After Saying It Was Mandatory But Also Do Wear a Mask Please and Thank You”

  1. The three studies I’ve seen all concluded that masks (especially the home made variety) are completely ineffective at protecting from transmission. Some benefit was noted related to those who are already sick wearing masks as they limit the potential dispersion of droplets in the event of a cough or sneeze. I have to say, the science seems to indicate that this is more a response to fear than an effective barrier to infection.

  2. I guess the “Live Free AND Die” crowd reminded DeWine last night that he was the governor of Ohio, not governor of Maryland.

    Well, the sanity was nice while it lasted. Now let’s get back to the really important business of criminalizing abortion and making vending machine gun sales legal.

  3. I have no problem wearing a mask in public. I understand that it doesn’t protect me from others, but it may protect others from me. Isn’t that what safety is all about?

  4. The science is very clear. They so not protect you they protect others if you have it. Look at the testing numbers from New York, huge numbers of people that had it and never knew. That is reason enough to make everyone wear one.

    This is a horrible decision.

  5. They just want you breathing in carbon dioxide. The n95 style masks let in fresh filtered air but the cloth ones just make you breathe your own exhaled carbon dioxide.

  6. My mask protects you, and your mask protects me. But if I’m autistic, I don’t have to protect you. HUH? Mike DeWine, where’s that spine you had back in March?

  7. Gawwwwd, all the whiny babies I saw saying “Dictator Dewine” was infringing on MAH RIGHTS by making them wear a mask in public. The mind boggles at these man-children’s complete lack of self-awareness.

  8. @takeitto89: Maybe they dont want to deprive the lowly masses of the opportunity to view their beautiful faces?

  9. leftists are so brainwashed by the idiot media who told them a month ago masks don’t work, that they are now vilifying those who don’t wear masks now. Did you put on a mask in March takeitto89 or rcarla or do you just wait until these dopes in Columbus tell you what to do?

    Dewine is not a dictator. He is following orders from the global elite he really works for.

  10. @Pop,,,orders from the global elite,,,,,,you watched too much Flash Gordon back in the day.
    Your favorite bar must be closed and your experiencing withdrawal symptoms,

  11. No, he’s just a nutty obsessed asshole who trolls this site 24/7.

  12. Did you really have to write such a snarky headline?

    Yes, of course you did.

    Because you’re you.

    Grow up.

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