Cleveland Makes Masks Mandatory In Public Spaces

CLEVELAND, OH — Residents of Cleveland must wear masks in public spaces, including business and restaurants, according to an order signed by Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson on Friday.

"The spike in coronavirus cases across the City of Cleveland warrants the mandated use of masks," Jackson said in a statement. "If Clevelanders do not heed these critical warnings and prevention efforts, the effects will be disastrous to the economy and, most importantly, to individuals and families. No one is immune to this virus."

Cuyahoga County has a Level 3 public emergency, which means there is "very high exposure and spread" of COVID-19.

Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish announced his intent to bring legislation before the county council to mandate masks in public spaces.

On Friday, 47 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus were reported in Cleveland and no deaths were reported. Overall, 2,535 Clevelanders have been infected with the virus and 77 have died.

The order makes the following directives effective immediately:

1. Mandatory masks for all individuals out in public or in public spaces including businesses, restaurants etc.
2. Maximum capacity at any bar, restaurant, entertainment venue cannot exceed 50% of allowable capacity and must comply with social distancing standards.
3. Any establishment that upon 2 incidents of violating maximum capacity order will be ordered to shut down.
4. Mass Gathering Orders are still in effect. If incidents of more than 10 persons are gathered not wearing masks, enforcement actions will be taken.
5. If an establishment has an employee or a patron, who has tested positive for Covid-19, then the establishment must be sanitized to the standards of the Cleveland Health Department, failure to demonstrate such sanitization will result in the facility being shut down.
6. People should not gather during the holiday, except within the social distancing and mass gathering mandates, and shall wear masks and wash their hands often.

Guidelines that would fine people or venues for failing to follow certain public health directives will be introduced via legislation.

You can read the full order here.