As cities and counties surrounding Union County consider and enact mask mandates, local officials are not moving in that direction.
“We are comfortable, at this point in time, with the recommendation that people wear masks,” Marysville City Manager Terry Emery said. “I don’t think we are at a point to mandate.”
He added that if the Union County Health Department or the governor were to issue a mandate to wear a mask, “we would obviously follow that.”
Emery said he believes masks do help keep people safe and it is “appropriate to recommend to people that they wear a mask, especially where they cannot maintain social distance.”
But the idea of issuing citations and penalties is somewhere “we aren’t going,” Emery said.
He said that in places like Dublin, Hilliard, Upper Arlington and Columbus where a mask mandate is in place, they are required only indoors and at large gatherings.
“We would recommend that same exact practice and process to anyone — wear a mask indoors, especially if you are around other people and you can’t social distance — we just aren’t at a point yet to put that into a mandate,” Emery said.
City Hall is open, though “wearing a face mask is strongly encouraged while inside City facilities.”
When visiting City Hall, customers are asked to limit the number of people with them. When possible, customers are encouraged to utilize online services, telephone, or drop boxes to conduct City business.
The county is also recommending the public visit offices “only if it is unavoidable” and the use of masks by anyone coming into county facilities is “strongly encouraged.”
County Administrator Tim Hansley said county employees are wearing masks unless there is a health or safety issue. Additionally, he said that if an employee is in a private work space they can take the mask off.
“As the cases begin to increase again, we will likely begin to be more strict about enforcement,” Hansley said.
According to a release from the local health department, Union County “saw an increase in new cases and hospitalizations during the past two weeks in comparison to previous weeks.”
The release said that between June 22 and July 5, the county saw 14 new cases and three new hospitalizations.
In the two weeks prior, there were eight new cases and no hospitalizations. The new case numbers do not include antibody tests for past infections.
“The primary mode of exposure in June for Union County cases continues to be community exposure (roughly 40% of cases reported in June) which means there was no known source of infection (such as occupational exposure, travel exposure or contact with a known case),” according to the release.
Hansley said that as he interacts with other health departments and officials, he appreciates local health commissioner Jason Orcena.
“He is very excellent,” Hansley said. “He is proactive without overreacting.”
Monday, Common Pleas Court Judge Don Fraser filed an entry canceling the court’s judicial emergency. He said the emergency actually ended at the end of May, but the judge’s entry makes it official.
Fraser said a move to hold a portion of trials in Veteran’s Auditorium, “has worked pretty smoothly.”
“We are working pretty hard,” Fraser said. “I think we are pretty much caught up with our docket.”