Dewine changes stance on masks in schools
Last August, Gov. Mike Dewine announced that most children returning to K-12 schools would be required to wear masks to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“We’re doing it to frankly give our children, our teachers the best chance to succeed,” Dewine said at the time as daily COVID-19 cases hovered around 1,000. “Whatever goals you have for your child this academic year, we are doing this so that child has the best possibility of achieving those goals.”
Fast forward a year and Dewine is taking a different approach to masks and COVID-19 vaccines in schools: “These decisions today rest with each parent. It rests with the parent and with each school official,” he said Tuesday.
What changed? For one, Ohio lawmakers passed Senate Bill 22, which allows lawmakers to rescind Ohio
of Health orders like mask mandates. Dewine vetoed the bill, but legislators voted to override him.
If Dewine imposed a mask mandate for K-12 schools, Ohio lawmakers could upend it immediately. Ohio’s Gop-controlled Legislature has long opposed mask requirements, introducing several proposals to ban the practice in K-12 schools.
At the time, Dewine questioned whether rescinding a health order via resolution – the method used in Senate Bill 22 – was constitutional. So the whole issue could end in a lawsuit.
For another, Ohioans now have access to the COVID-19 vaccines. Teachers and school staff were moved to the front of the line to access the shots.
Children ages 12 and older can be vaccinated against COVID-19. About 55% of Ohioans over 12 years old were vaccinated as of Thursday.
But Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, a Democrat hoping to unseat Dewine, says the reason for Dewine’s change of heart isn’t practical – it’s political. Dewine is afraid of upsetting GOP primary voters and state lawmakers already angry about closed businesses and polling locations.
Former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, a Republican challenging Dewine in the primary, vehemently opposes mask mandates. Renacci is hoping to attract voters frustrated by the way Dewine handled the pandemic.
“(Dewine) cares more about his primary election than he does about Ohio kids and Ohio schools,” Whaley said Thursday. “He is willing to let children get sick in order to win an election.”
Dewine’s campaign manager Brening ton Temple disagrees: “It’s surprising that a mayor who supports local control doesn’t believe in local control and parental choice when it comes to Ohio’s children.”
Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, a Democrat running for governor, also supports requiring masks in schools, senior strategist Eric Hyers said.
What hasn’t changed is the number of COVID-19 cases reported: the 21-day average of daily COVID-19 cases was 2,140 Thursday.
The number of people admitted to Ohio hospitals because of COVID-19 is similar: 72 on Aug. 4, 2020, and 78 on Aug. 4, 2021, according to Ohio Department of Health data.
The Ohio Health Department is still recommending masks to prevent “a constant vicious cycle of quarantining,” Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said Wednesday. Nick Lashutka, president and CEO of the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association, is urgdepartment
masks in schools.
“Last year at this time, children were not experiencing COVID-19 at the rate or intensity that we are seeing now. While we are not yet seeing the COVID-19 levels in children that other states are experiencing, we are beginning to experience an increase in both numbers and severity,” Lashutka said.
“Fortunately, we have tools to help children return to school, remain in school and do so as safely as possible, including strongly encouraging wearing masks by all staff and students and vaccinations for staff and children 12 and older.”
Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
Reporters Titus Wu and Anna Staver contributed to this article.