Hamilton may consider requiring masks to battle coronavirus

When a county is Level 3, the state says the emergency level means the virus has “very high exposure and spread,” and advises people to “limit activities as much as possible.”

Hamilton Mayor Pat Moeller said the city council will discuss the issue of possibly requiring masks at its July 22 meeting.

“Obviously social distancing, personal hygiene, wearing masks during certain situations, and undergoing testing when one has symptoms continue to be important,” he said.

“We need to respect our businesses and the policies they establish regarding the wearing of masks and social distancing. I believe we are smart enough to lessen the spread of COVID-19, but we need to act smart. I personally try to act smart, but there are moments when social distancing is not always possible.

Moeller said he will be paying close attention to percentages of coronavirus cases that send people t0 intensive care units, the local intensive care occupancy and hospital admissions.

All other Ohio counties in the area that aren’t red are at Level 2, shown in orange, on the state’s advisory map. Those include Warren, Preble, Clermont, Greene and Clark. That status means “increased exposure and spread,” according to the state’s system. “Exercise high degree of caution.”

The majority of Ohio counties are shown in yellow, the lowest danger level, which represents “active exposure and spread.”

Level 4 is “severe exposure and spread.” Under that status, people should “only leave home for supplies and services.”

Butler County has triggered four of the seven indicators the state uses to measure how prevalent and severe the virus is. Those four indicators are:

• New cases per capita

• Increases in new cases

• Non-congregate cases (situations where people cannot self-isolate at home)

• Outpatient visits related to the virus.

The three that Butler County hasn’t triggered are emergency visits related to the virus; hospital admissions connected with the virus and intensive-care-unit bed occupancy. In addition to the four factors present for Butler County, Hamilton and Franklin counties also triggered emergency-room visits related to the virus.

From June 17 to June 29, the number of COVID-19 cases in emergency rooms tripled in Butler County, from an average of two to seven per day, according to the state.