masks
How individual rights and government regulation are both necessary for a free society
I’ve been thinking a lot, recently, about the tension between demanding “individual rights” – in the sense of deciding whether or not to wear a mask – and calling for more action on the part of our government to protect us from the coronavirus pandemic. I’m a political theorist, which means I study how communities […]
County-by-county COVID-19 response ‘will not work,’ Harvard epidemiologist says
A Harvard epidemiologist cast skepticism on Gov. Mike DeWine’s emphasis on forming “COVID defense teams” to respond to the pandemic on a county-by-county basis. Dr. Michael Mina, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said a “patchwork approach” of uneven policy applications is doomed to fail. “As long […]
As pandemic worsens, legislature still refuses mask mandate at the Capitol
The new coronavirus has killed more than 209,000 Americans — including 4,925 Ohioans — and infected the leader of the free world and the quarterback of the New England Patriots alike. Yet still, Ohio’s legislative leaders have rebuffed any requirement that members and their staff wear masks at the Capitol. Facial coverings are among the […]
Ohio GOP reps introduce latest bill to weaken health department powers
Two Republicans in the Ohio House of Representatives have introduced another bill to weaken the Ohio Department of Health’s ability to issue public health orders during the pandemic. Its chance of passage is doubtful, given the laundry list of similar efforts that have either stalled out or been vetoed by the governor. GOP Reps. Susan […]
PPE, staffing shortages linger as COVID-19 kills 2500 nursing home residents in Ohio
One in 10 Ohio nursing homes told regulators they didn’t have any N95 respirators on hand, which medical staff use to shield themselves from the coronavirus while treating infected patients. Even among those that do, the supply chain is tenuous: 1 in 4 said they don’t have a week’s worth of the masks in store. […]
A brutal July leaves 535 Ohioans dead from COVID-19
At least 535 Ohioans died of COVID-19 and 35,500 residents contracted the disease in July, state data shows. More than 2,400 Ohioans were admitted to the hospital in July, elevating the number of coronavirus patients in state hospitals to their highest levels of the pandemic. About 1,000 are currently in the hospital as of Monday, […]
A pandemic is raging. So are Ohio’s bars.
PUT-IN-BAY — The drinks are flowing. The music is bumping. On Saturday, a line formed to enter one of four pools at The Islander Inn, including what’s advertised as the world’s longest swim-up bar. Of course, a pandemic rages on all the while. Recent mass testing detected 66 cases of COVID-19 among workers on the […]
Mask mandates save lives but are a political thornbush
COVID-19 is bigger than ever in Ohio, with the number of new daily cases reaching its highest points of the pandemic in July. As the disease continues to spread throughout the state, Gov. Mike DeWine has struggled to balance public health needs with a growing sentiment against public health measures. Before last week’s statewide mask […]
Mask resistance during a pandemic isn’t new – in 1918 many Americans were ‘slackers’
We have all seen the alarming headlines: Coronavirus cases are surging in 40 states, with new cases and hospitalization rates climbing at an alarming rate. Health officials have warned that the U.S. must act quickly to halt the spread – or we risk losing control over the pandemic. There’s a clear consensus that Americans should […]
‘Enter at your own risk:’ COVID-19 cases at statehouse spark Dems’ concern
Two administrative staffers entered Thomas Horan’s office at the Statehouse on Tuesday with a simple message: Go home, you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 at work. On Wednesday, they told him to come back. Turns out they had the wrong Thomas. The case of mistaken identity, shared by Horan and the state lawmaker he works for, […]
The state said no to masks. Now, Ohio cities are saying yes.
The governor dithered. The state legislature said no way. So on Tuesday, the Springfield City Commission took it upon itself to pass a resolution (which lacks the force of law) calling for all residents to cover their faces while indoors, a practice research says will slow the spread of COVID-19 through Ohio. By Wednesday, Dayton […]
House Republicans vote down mask mandate for lawmakers and staff
Ohio House Republicans squashed a proposal from Democrats on Tuesday that would have required lawmakers and staff to wear face masks while conducting House business to slow the spread of COVID-19. The House Rules and Reference Committee, an arm of House leadership, recommended postponing the issue indefinitely, paving the way to the proposal’s demise. The […]