Ohio public, private university vaccine and mask mandates

By: Leah Alsept

alseptl@findlay.edu

@l_mac0913

The database below will have updated information as time goes on

The Ohio State University began its fall semester with two huge public safety announcements relating to COVID-19.

On Aug. 2, the school announced that masks would be required by all individuals in an indoor setting regardless of vaccination status on all of their campuses. Vaccinated individuals do not have to wear masks outdoors. OSU’s main campus is located in Columbus, but the school has several regional campuses in Marion, Lima, Newark, Wooster, and Mansfield.

Wasting no time after the Pfizer vaccine was approved by the FDA, Ohio State announced it will be requiring all students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the school said in a statement Aug. 24. Buckeyes will have their choice of Pfizer, Moderna, or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“The deadline for all Ohio State students, faculty and staff to have at least the first dose is Friday, October 15, 2021. For people receiving a two-dose sequence, the second dose deadline is November 15, 2021,” added the announcement.

10 days ago, Columbus mayor Andrew J. Ginther signed an executive order stating individuals six and older, vaccinated and unvaccinated, are to wear a mask in indoor spaces, including ”city buildings, office buildings, retail establishments, bars and restaurants, and public transportation,” says The City of Columbus news release. Three days later, the Columbus City Council approved the order in a 6-0 vote after some heckling by anti-mask protestors.

“The council ordinance lists a multitude of exemptions, and states that businesses are allowed to rely upon the statements of their customers as to whether any of these exemptions apply to them, including anyone saying they have a mental-health or medical exemption. Schools, religious facilities and state and federal offices are exempt from the ordinance,” says ‘The Columbus Dispatch.’

Many Ohio public universities have both a mask and vaccine mandate, with various dates in October, November, and December given as the deadline to show proof of complete coronavirus vaccination status. Currently, the University of Findlay, which is a private university, has a mask mandate, but does not have a vaccination mandate.

“There is no plan to mandate vaccinations, but we will continue to encourage individuals to get vaccinated,” Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Dave Emsweller, said in an email interview.

A database is being created for the public to view which Ohio universities and colleges have and do not have mask and vaccine mandates. If you wish to view this information, please click the link here. This database will continue to be updated as time goes on.

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