Columbus City Council voted Monday to rescind the city’s mask mandate, nearly six months after it went into effect.
Council approved the ordinance to repeal the mandate on a unanimous vote.
In an unusual move, it was signed by Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther moments later instead of the following morning. That means people in Columbus no longer need to wear masks.
“You did it. It was hard. We didn’t like it. No one enjoyed it, but we together did it. For that we are grateful,” council president Shannon Hardin said, referring to people who wore masks to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
Hardin also urged residents to be accepting of others who still choose to wear masks, even with the mandate rescinded.
Columbus City Schools is also making masks voluntary starting Tuesday. The district has had a mask mandate for all of the current school year.
