Statewide mask mandate to take effect as virus cases grow

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A mandatory mask order was set to take effect in Ohio Thursday as the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb.

The order is necessary to slow the growth of the virus, and follows experts’ guidance that widespread mask-wearing over a month or six weeks could put a severe crimp in the virus.

Mandatory mask orders are already in place in 19 at-risk Ohio counties, and the number of counties with dangerously high case figures was expected to rise on Thursday, when the state’s new color coding system was expected to be updated.

The Ohio Health Department reported 1,527 new cases Wednesday, the second-highest one-day total since the pandemic struck. Cases have surged through July as the state reopened many businesses and in some parts of Ohio crowds ignored social distancing guidelines.

Ohio has reported more than 77,000 confirmed and probable cases and more than 3,200 deaths. Many of the latter are among nursing home residents.

The economic impact of the pandemic continues to be felt, as the Ohio Department of Job and Family services reported Thursday that 1.5 million claims for unemployment compensation have been filed in the past 18 weeks, including about 30,000 last week. The total is more than the previous three years of claims.