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STATEMENT, (RESCISSION OF PRIOR DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY) submitted by Mayor John Cranley, City Manager Paula Boggs Muething, and Commissioner Melba Moore, In response to the public danger arising from verified cases of contagion of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 pandemic, and based in part upon the declaration of a statewide emergency in Ohio by Governor DeWine, the Mayor declared a public emergency pursuant to Article III of the Cincinnati Charter and Article XVIII of the Administration Code of the City of Cincinnati in March 2020 ("Local Emergency Declaration"). The Mayor reissued the Local Emergency Declaration on June 29, 2020 and November 16, 2020 to more narrowly address the evolving public health threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic at those times. City Council has approved the extension of the Local Emergency Declaration from time to time as required Article XVIII of the Administrative Code. With the advent of warmer weather and rising rates of vaccination against COVID-19, the public health risk in Cincinnati and across the country has begun to lessen - particularly for vaccinated individuals. The pandemic is not over, but the federal Center for Disease Control ("CDC") and the Ohio Department of Health have announced that public health restrictions will be relaxed in the coming weeks, including full recission of statewide mask and social distancing requirements effective June 2, 2021, and elimination of masking requirements for vaccinated individuals effective immediately. City Council Ordinance No. 246-2020 (the "City Mask Ordinance") imposes a broad local mask mandate that is no longer in keeping with state and federal health guidance, particularly as it relates to vaccinated individuals. The City Mask Ordinance expires upon termination of the June 29 Local Emergency Declaration. By this action, I hereby rescind the June 29 Local Emergency Declaration in its entirely - effective today. As a result, the City Mask Ordinance shall immediately cease to be ...
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