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State Not Enforcing Mask Order At Political Events

businessinsider.com

The White House says President Trump will stop in Dayton on Monday for a campaign event. 

The president will attempt to convince voters he's been good for the economy and workers. Trump will then fly to Toledo for another campaign rally later that night. There is no mention of face masks, but attendees must sign a liability waiver. Pictures of people at political rallies in Ohio recently have shown most of them unmasked in large crowds. Thats in part because the state's mask mandate has gone unenforced. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.

Governor DeWine says the state hasn’t enforced the mask mandate in churches because he respects the freedom of religion or at political demonstrations where Ohioans are exercising free speech. And he says political events fall into that protected category under the mandate but he says that with a strong warning.

 

“We really urge anyone who is conducting a rally, attending a rally, while we don’t require you to do it, the order does not say you have to, but please wear a mask. Please do social distancing.”

 

Those pleas will probably go unheeded by many based on the lack of masks being worn at political rallies in recent weeks, including one with Vice President Pence in Zanesville where the crowd booed at the mention of DeWine’s name. President Trump is set to visit Ohio Monday and the Biden campaign is also exploring options for in-person political events in Ohio too. 

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.
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