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Gov. DeWine Explains Why Mask Mandate Isn’t Being Enforced At Political Rallies

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (Statehouse News Bureau) — Pictures of people at political rallies in Ohio recently have shown most of them unmasked, in large crowds. The state’s mask mandate has gone unenforced at those events.

Few people wore masks at this Women for Trump event in Columbus recently
Few people wore masks at this Women for Trump event in Columbus recently [Dan Konik | Statehouse News Bureau]
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said 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,” DeWine said.

Those pleas will probably go unheeded by many based on the lack of masks being worn at political rallies in the recent weeks, including one with Vice President Mike 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.