In light of the Delta variant and updated CDC recommendations, we strongly encourage all individuals, including those who are vaccinated, to wear a mask when in our stores and facilities. But if that's true, why isn't there more evidence for the benefits of masking two years into the pandemic? (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File) Columbus City Schools, the state's largest district, on Tuesday also dropped its mask mandate. 'But the power to conditionally release and detain is ordinarily limited to individuals entering the United States from a foreign country.'. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. However, we do have some clues. At the time, high-level discussions were not on the. Columbus Public Health issued guidance last week recommending schools, some of whom host children 11 and younger who are ineligible for vaccination, to require all students to wear face masks. Mazzola, who is also the president of the board of the Association of Ohio Health Commissioners, downplayed schisms between public health guidance and state policy. Mike DeWine rescinded the health orders to conform to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for vaccinated individuals. "All patients, visitors and caregivers at Cleveland Clinic will still be screened and required to wear a face mask in our facilities, including those who are fully vaccinated. COLUMBUS, Ohio Columbus Public Health is recommending city leaders in Columbus and Worthington wait until March 7 to end mask mandates. "We are continuing with trials and all criminal and civil procedures. ', Mizelle suggested that the government's implementation of the mandate in which non-complying travelers are 'forcibly removed from their airplane seats, denied board at the bus steps, and turned away at the train station doors; was akin to 'detention and quarantine,' which are not contemplated in the section of the law in question , 'As a result, the Mask Mandate is best understood not as sanitation, but as an exercise of the CDC's power to conditionally release individuals to travel despite concerns that they may spread a communicable disease (and to detain or partially quarantine those who refuse),' she wrote. The platform is designed to engage citizens and government leaders in a discussion about what needs improvement across the country. Three vaccines are available for use as safe and effective preventative measures against COVID-19, although theyre only available to those 12 and up. After monitoring COVID-19 positivity rates among our patients, caregivers and communities, in addition to statewide updates and guidance, we did reduce visitation restrictions effective May 27, 2021," the clinic said in a statement. Despite their availability over the last seven months, less than half the state is vaccinated against COVID-19. Reveal Truth On Vaccines with Nicholas Veniamin. Copyright 2022 TheAssociated Press. The justices are meeting in an unusual session Friday to hear arguments on two Biden administration policies that seek to curb the spread of Covid in U.S. workplaces. 08/08/20Executive Order 2020-31DThe Partial Recission of Executive Order 2020-21D and Emergency Adoption of Rules 5101:2-12-02.2, 5101:2-13-02.2, 5101:2-14-02.2, and 5101:2-18-03.1 of the Ohio Administartive Code by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. In Ohio, masks are not mandated. "44"This would fall under the unprofessional-conduct part of the Medical Practice Act," the email added.45, An attorney for Henrichs responded, questioning whether the investigation had legal standing and suggesting it was an attempt to "coerce or intimidate a public official in the performance of his public duties. The CDC revealed a new color-coded map with. Support local journalism by becoming a member. Parents, doctors and others were allowed to enter their observations. The public, he said, understands the right thing to do, regardless of political actions that limit the public health officials authority. by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, 04/10/20ExecutiveOrder202012DEmergency Amendment of Rules, 04/07/20ExecutiveOrder2020-10DLiquor Control Commission, 04/01/20ExecutiveOrder2020-08DCommercial Evictions and Foreclosures, 03/31/20 Public Water Systems Under ORC Chapter 6109(Ohio EPA), 03/19/20 ExecutiveOrder2020-05D Telehealth, 03/17/20ExecutiveOrder2020-04DTemporary Pandemic Child Care, 03/17/20ExecutiveOrder2020-03DUnemployment, 03/14/20ExecutiveOrder2020-02DEmergency Amendment Rule, The Emergency Adoption of Rule 5160-1-18 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Department of Medicaid and the Emergency Amendment of Rule 5122-29-31 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Directing Expenditure of Fiscal Year 2021 TANF Funds, by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Unemployment Insurance During COVID-19 Pandemic, Directors Order Rescinding Various Orders, Second Amended Reporting Requirements for CoronavirusDisease 2019 (COVID-19) Under Ohio Revised Code 3701.14 and 3701.23, Directors Order Rescinding September 3, 2020 COVID-19 Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade Reporting Order, Directors Order Rescinding Various Orders (June 18, 2021), Directors Order Rescinding Various Orders (June 2, 2021), Directors Second Amended Order for Social Distancing, Facial Coverings and Non-Congregating, Directors Amended Order for the Testing of the Residents and Staff of all Nursing Homes, Directors Amended Order for the Testing of the Residents and Staff of all Residential Care Facilities, AddendumtoDirectorsAmendedOrderforSocialDistancing,FacialCoveringsandNon-Congregating, Amended Director's Order Rescinding the Directors Order to Limit Access to Ohios Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IIDs) and Permit Visitation, Directors Amended Order for Social Distancing, Facial Coverings and Non-Congregating, Director's Order for Social Distancing, Facial Coverings, and Non-Congregating, Director's Order Rescinding Various Orders, Director's journal entry in re COVID 19 Volunteer Vaccine Providers, Directors Fourth Amended Order that All Persons Stay at Home During Specified Hours Unless Engaged in Work or Essential Activity, Directors Third Amended Order that All Persons Stay at Home During Specified Hours Unless Engaged in Work or Essential Activity, Sixth Amended Directors Order to Limit Access to Ohios Nursing Homes and Similar Facilities, with Exceptions, Directors Second Amended Order that All Persons Stay at Home During Specified Hours Unless Engaged in Work or Essential Activity, Directors Third Amended Order for Non-Congregate Sheltering to be utilized throughout Ohio, Directors Amended Order that All Persons Stay at Home During Specified Hours Unless Engaged in Work or Essential Activity, Revised Order to Limit and/or Prohibit Mass Gatherings in the State of Ohio, with Exceptions, Second Amended Reporting Requirements for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Under Ohio Revised Code 3701.14 and 3701.23, Amended Directors Order on the Opening of Adult Day Care Services and Senior Centers, Fifth Amended Directors Order to Limit Access to Ohios Nursing Homes and Similar Facilities, with Exceptions. 08/08/20Executive-Order-2020-32D The Emergency Amendment of Rule 122:5-2-03 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Development Services Agency. As reported by CNN:11, "The first part of the judge's 59-page ruling12turned on the meaning of the word 'sanitation,' as it functions in the 1944 statute that gives the federal government the authority in its efforts to combat communicable diseases to issue regulations concerning 'sanitation. Across the country, more. She said a healthy, 28-year-old patient of hers skipped vaccination, contracted COVID-19, and went home until his blood oxygen unexpectedly plummeted. Updated ODH Mask Flyers: Version 1 . Mike DeWine, review from The Network for Public Health Law, school districts and universities have split on the issue, federal appellate court ruling upholding the University of Indianas COVID-19 vaccine requirement, legal opinion from the U.S. So the lifting of the requirement will mean thatrestaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores and other businesses will be able to set their own mask policies. 06/08/20 -DirectorsAmendedOrderthatReopensRestaurants,Bars,BanquetandCateringFacilitiesandServicestoDine-inService,withExceptions. The lawsuit was brought by the Health Freedom Defense Fund, The mandate was unlawful because the CDC did not have the statutory authority to issue such a rule. ', She wrote that the mandate fell outside of the law because 'the CDC required mask wearing as a measure to keep something clean explaining that it limits the spread of COVID-19 through prevention, but never contending that it actively destroys or removes it. DeWine effectively lifted the mask mandate in Ohio on Monday following new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Education Delivery Models and Mask Policies for School Year 2021-2022 The Department's Schools Dashboard incorporates multiple information sources to build an understanding of the Education Delivery Models and Mask Policies in use for each traditional public school district. Visit our Vaccinating Ohio page for the latest updates on Ohio's vaccination program, including links to sign up for a vaccine appointment, a map of nearby vaccination sites, a detailed breakdown of the state's current vaccine phase, and continuing local coverage of COVID-19 vaccines in Northeast Ohio. State legislation that took effect earlier this summer forbids health departments from issuing blanket health mandates among people not diagnosed with any disease. Firefighters used ladders to rescue at least five people from a burning Indianapolis apartment building where others reportedly jumped from third-floor windows to escape the smoke and flames, A mistrial was declared after a jury in southern Arizona was unable to reach a verdict on a murder charge against a man accused of killing a 6-year-old girl, A now-shuttered Wisconsin substance abuse center and its CEO owe the government more than $2 million in a Medicaid fraud case. Published: May. DirectorsAmendedOrderthatReopensRestaurants,Bars,BanquetandCateringFacilitiesandServicestoDine-inService,withExceptions. Mike DeWine signed legislation that effective Oct. 13 forbids schools and universities from requiring a vaccine, unless it has received full authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Gov. COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH) Columbus Public Health is recommending that the cities of Columbus and Worthington end their mask requirements on Monday, March 7 . In response, the lead plaintiff, Health Freedom Defense Fund (HFDF), issued the following statement:14, "DoJ's statement is perplexing to say the least and sounds like it comes from health policy advocates not government lawyers. . HFDF is left with no option but to conclude that the Mask Mandate is really a political matter and not at all about urgent public health issues or the demands of sound science. It will be on June 2. according to the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court website. Scientific studies confirming masks don't work were roundly ignored. Feb. 9, 2022. An Ohio.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the State of Ohio. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. However, the politics are dicer. Many other health authorities have also violated and broken our trust, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which parents rely on for truthful information to protect the health and well-being of their children. Despite the recommendation, Columbus and a handful of communities in Franklin County have public mask orders in place, but mayors have indicated that they are in the process of being reviewed. Some districts . Directors Second Amended Order for Non-Congregate Sheltering to be utilized throughout Ohio, Directors Order on the Opening of Adult Day Care Services and Senior Centers, Directors First Amended Order that Provides Mandatory Requirements for Youth, Collegiate, Amateur, Club and Professional Sports, Directors Order for the Testing of the Residents and Staff of all Residential Care Facilities, Directors Order that Provides Mandatory Requirements for Youth, Collegiate, Amateur, Club and Professional Sports, Directors Corrected Third Order to Extend the Expiration date of Second Amended Order that Provides Guidance for Contact Sport Practices and Non-Contact Sport Competitions, and Contact Competition, with Exceptions, Directors Amended Order Limiting County Fairs to Junior Fair Activities and Animal Exhibitions, with Exceptions, Second Directors Order to Extend the Expiration date of Second Amended Order that Provides Guidance for Contact Sport Practices and Non-Contact Sport Competitions, and Contact Competition, with Exceptions, Addendum to Directors Order for Facial Coverings in Counties in Level 3 Public Health Advisory, Directors Order to Extend the Expiration date of Second Amended Order that Provides Guidance for Contact Sport Practices and Non-Contact Sport Competitions, and Contact Competition, with Exceptions, Directors Order for Facial Coverings in Butler, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Huron, Montgomery, and Trumbull Counties in Level 3 Public Health Advisory, Directors Second Amended Order that Provides Guidance for Contact Sport Practices and Non-Contact Sport Competitions, and Contact Competition, with Exceptions, Fourth Amended Directors Order to Limit Access to Ohios Nursing Homes and Similar Facilities, with Exceptions, Directors Order to Extend the Expiration Date of Various Orders, Guidance for Contact Sport Practices and Non-Contact Sport Competitions, with Exceptions, Directors Order that Reopens County Fairs and Animal Exhibitions, with Exceptions. With assistance from our lawyers at theDavillier Law Group, we learned there is no "federal law" compelling masks for travel. We werent prepared for how sick he would be so fast. Businesses such as Mootown Creamery in Berea say they will continue to require masks for a little longer, despite the lifting of the health order on June 2. Orders rescindedLate Tuesday, DeWine announced that Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud had signed an order rescinding the following health orders, effective at midnight: The following orders, according to the governor, will remain in effect: Mask mandateWith the order now lifted, fully vaccinated individuals will no longer be required to wear a mask and will be allowed to resume most activities without social distancing. A 2009 study published in JAMA, which compared the effectiveness of surgical masks and N95 respirators to prevent seasonal influenza in a hospital setting; 24% of the nurses in the surgical mask group still got the flu, as did 23% of those who wore N95 respirators. Hong Kong will lift its mask . The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Ohio did not increase over the past two weeks, going from 1,718.71 new cases per day on Feb. 20 to 855.57 new cases per day on March 6, according to data collected by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering. Among them: Comparisons of infection rates (positive test rates) before and after the implementation of universal mask mandates also showed masks mandates had no beneficial effect whatsoever.26In one investigation,27states with mask mandates were found to have an average of 27 positive SARS-CoV-2 "cases" per 100,000 people, whereas states with no mask mandates had just 17 cases per 100,000. But that doesn't mean you should throw your mask away completely. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. He had been vaccinated and boosted against the disease. So bring your mask and card to those venues, which includethe Ohio Theatre, Palace Theatre, Southern Theatre, Lincoln Theatre, and the Riffe Centers Davidson Theatre and three studio theaters. He referred to the step as a beacon of light to employers outside the health care industry that if they wish to help, mandating vaccination is a route to do so. "What we have gone through collectively over the last two years has been difficult," Council President Shannon Hardin said. That will soon be going away in most indoor spaces. Most of Ohio is now in a medium- to low-risk for COVID-19 at the county or "community level," according to new CDC map guidance released Friday. Base mask mandate lifted - Fairborn Daily Herald . The experience of 25,930 children was telling. "I have considered authoritative medical evidence that questions the necessity of mandatory masking in our schools. Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Columbus. Expect businesses and organized gatherings to post visible signs at entrances requiring all persons not fully vaccinated entering to wear a face mask. . Mike DeWine's first term as Ohio governor, and his quest for re-election, are inextricably tied to COVID-19. His symptoms were exceptionally mild and he has since fully recovered, press secretary Steve Irwin said. That city council voted to follow the agency's recommendations Monday like Columbus. 1 min read. What's happening: When discussing unmasking, leaders cite decreasing community COVID-19 cases and new CDC guidance that ranks counties on a "low, medium, high" scale. 'Wearing a mask cleans nothing,' she wrote. Professor Mark Crispin Miller, who taught classes on mass persuasion and propaganda at the New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development for the last two decades, is but one example. issued a statewide mask mandate and . Download the News 5 app for free for your Apple or Google device for the latest vaccine and COVID-19 news, and for limited and timely news alerts on vaccines, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other important local news and weather. As a separate branch of government, the court is run separately from the governors office and the state legislature. Cleveland Clinic will maintain its mask mandate. a mask mandate remains in effect for now. Why would DoJ and CDC not immediately appeal? Columbus City Schools is expected to announce new masking guidelines by the end of the week. Updated: Feb 28, 2022 / 03:30 PM EST COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The CDC has outlined new measures to determine where masks should be worn in public, and it represents a change for Columbus and. FILE - Commuters wearing face masks browse their smartphones as they ride on a subway train in Hong Kong on Feb. 7, 2023. The fact that the CDC and White House have been doing what they know they cannot legally do says a lot about the state of our nation. Ohios COVID-19 health orders, including the mask mandate, have been lifted on June 2. The order runs for 30 days until Feb. 11. HONG KONG For the first time in almost 1,000 days, the people of Hong Kong were legally allowed to go outside . (David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com)David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com. Dr. Veena Satyapriya, a physician at OSU Wexner Medical Center, shared a cautionary tale of the implications of skipping on vaccination. Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas is not making any changes to its policies. Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. (WSYX) COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) . In a series of tweets, posted in August 2021, they even claimed there was no evidence to support the concern that masking might harm children's language development,37or that masks might compromise breathing.38. Supreme Court to hear arguments on Bidens Covid vaccine mandates, to require that businesses with 100 or more employees. By Jennifer Jett, Kamakshi Gupta and Stanley Le. Columbus Public Health recommends the city lift its mask mandate Monday in response to updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, according to a press release. Readpublic health and executive orders signed by the Governor and Ohio Department of Health Director in response to COVID-19. The average time children were wearing a mask was 270 minutes each day, and there were 24 health issues reported that were associated with mask wearing that fell into the categories of physical, psychological and behavioral issues. The fact that the stylists and all clients "universally wore masks in the salon" was therefore taken as evidence that the masks prevented the spread of infection. Experts associated with The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota have laid out a more complex analysis: Given the current understanding that the virus is transmitted in fine aerosol particles, it's likely an infectious dose could easily get through and around loose-fitting cloth or surgical masks , [States] with mask mandates haven't fared significantly better than the 35 states that didn't impose them during the omicron wave There's little evidence that mask mandates are the primary reason the pandemic waves eventually fall though much of the outrage over lifting mandates is based on that assumption. And on Tuesday, Columbus City Schools will no longer require masks in buildings or on buses. The other two are hospital admissions and the percent of hospital beds occupied by COVID patients. What you have done has truly worked," DeWine said in May when he announced the orders would end. Cloth masks are less effective than masks with a higher filtration rate, but they still have a statistically significant increase in transmission time for a viral load that poses a likelihood of infection. Official data shows that by the end of 2022, Hong Kong had issued more than 22,000 tickets . Were mask mandates and guidance put in place during the pandemic effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19? ", State law prohibits the intimidation of public officials going about their official duties, and in a statement, Henrichs called the overreach a direct threat:46. Fixed seatingThere will be no capacity limitations for outdoor and indoor facilities. Feb 24, 2022 Feb 24, 2022 Updated 20 min ago; . 06/05/20 -Third Amended Directors Order to Limit Access to Ohios Nursing Homes and Similar Facilities, with Exceptions, 06/04/20 -Directors Order that Reopens Youth Day Camps and Residential Camps, with Exceptions, 05/29/20 -Directors Order that Reopens Facilities Providing Child Care Services, with Exceptions, 05/29/20 -Directors Order that Rescinds the Directors Order that the Sale of Spirituous Liquor be Restricted in Certain Instances in Certain Counties, 05/28/20 -Testing of the Residents and Staff of all Nursing Homes, 05/22/20 -Third Amended Order the Closure of All K-12 Schools in the State of Ohio, 05/20/20 -Directors Order that Rescinds and Modifies Portions of the Stay Safe Ohio Order, 05/20/20 - Urgent Health Advisory - Ohioans Protecting Ohioans, 05/14/20 Director's Order that Reopens Personal Services, 05/14/20Directors Order to Laboratories in Ohio to Report Results of COVID19 TestsDirectors Order to Laboratories in Ohio to Report Results of COVID19 Tests, 05/01/20Directors Order that Reopens Businesses, with Exceptions, and Continues a Stay healthy and Safe at Home Order, 06/18/21Executive Order 2021-09DThe Emergency Adoption of Rule 173-1-04 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Department of Aging, 06/18/21Executive Order 2021-08DRescinding Executive Order 2020-01D and Ending the Declared State of Emergency, 06/17/21 Executive Order 2021-07DThe Emergency Amendment of Rules 5123-9-06, 5123-9-14, 5123-9-17, 5123-9-33, and 5123-9-39 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, 08/25/20Executive Order 2020-35DThe Rescission of Executive Orders 2020-21D and 2020-31D, Creation of the Temporary Pandemic School-Age Child Care Center License, Emergency Amendment of Rules 5101:2-16-09 and 5101:2-16-10 and Emergency Adoption of Rules 5101:2-12-02.2, 5101:2-12-02.3, 5101:2-13-02.2, 5101:2-14-02.2 and 5101:2-18-03.1 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. In Ohio, most of the state is at a low or medium level. Others have lifted the mandates in schools. HONG KONG (AP) Hong Kong will lift its mask mandate on Wednesday, ending the city's last major restriction imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Andy Wong. Most mask mandates have ended at least for now, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health authorities, including the . In accordance with new Department of Defense guidance, base officials removed the installation mask mandate March 3 as surrounding communities meet new health thresholds for COVID-19. The new law also prevents schools from treating vaccinated students differently than unvaccinated ones in terms of masking and social distancing. This summer, Gov. That includes: It depends on the venue, and the performer, who can still make their own rules at most venues. In April 2021, it issued a statement prohibiting physicians from making comments or providing advice that goes against the official narrative. The announcement said that the mandate was effective immediately and would be in place until further notice. Masks will be provided at the courts entrance, the announcement said. Gov. Nor does the agency have the authority to penalize Americans for non-compliance. The COVID-19 vaccines are currently available for use under an emergency use authorization, a streamlined regulatory process used during public health emergencies. The IDPFR has commanded me to 'toe the line' or suffer personal and professional consequences. Governor Jon Husted today provided the following updates on Ohio's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Supreme Court has re-implemented a mask mandate for visitors, hours after health officials in Columbus and Franklin County issued a mask advisory in response to. The Biden administration erred in failing to seek public notice and comment on the policy She also ruled that the mandate violates that APA's prohibitions on 'arbitrary' and 'capricious' agency actions because the CDC had failed to adequately explain its reasoning for implementing the policy , Other lawsuits that have been filed targeting the mandate have failed Unlike other cases where judges were weighing emergency or preliminary orders, Mizelle was considering the legality of the mandate on the merits. One survey of 993 people from Dec. 10 to 13, conducted by Ipsos and Axios, found that 64% of people nationally support state and local mask mandates and that 69% of people reported that they are . LAKEWOOD CITY SCHOOLS. All rights reserved. 07/31/20Executive Order 2020-30DThe Rescission of Executive Order 2020-10D and Emergency Adoption of Rule 4301:1-1-80of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Liquor Control Commission, 07/16/20 Executive Order 2020-29DThe Emergency Adoption of Rule 5160-1-18 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Department of Medicaid and the Emergency Amendment of Rule 5122-29-31 of the Ohio Administrative Code by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, 07/09/20Executive Order 2020-28DDirecting Expenditure of Fiscal Year 2021 TANF Funds by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, 07/09/20ExecutiveOrder2020-27Directing Expenditure of Fiscal Year 2021 TANF Funds by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, 07/02/20 Executive Order 2020-26D Authorizing One-Hundred (100) Percent Federal Funding for SharedWork Ohio Benefits, 06/18/20ExecutiveOrder2020-24DUnemployment Insurance During COVID-19 Pandemic. Its about having respect for people, said John Lewis, a customer News 5 spoke with at the ice cream shop. Its not an order and its not a mandate, said Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts at a news conference. Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill also made remote arguments before the court against the mandates on Friday "in accordance with Covid protocols," according to a statement from her office, but the statement did not elaborate further. Portland Public Schools has lifted all mask requirements. I think, unfortunately, it has become political, [but] public health is not political, he said. ", The CDC, in addition to usurping authority it did not have, has also violated public trust by relying on the very lowest forms of scientific evidence. State, federal and religious buildings have not beenincluded, meaning those agencies and institutions decided their own policy. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. State lawmakers passed legislation this past spring that guts the powers of state and local public health departments to issue orders like mask mandates, but city officials believe they still maintain the power to do so..