CLEVELAND — In response to the surge of COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant, many venues around Northeast Ohio are instituting policies either requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccinations or the wearing of a face covering. Here is our running list:
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements
Colleges and Universities:
The following universities in Ohio have announced immunization requirements (Track our complete list here):
- Bowling Green State University
- Case Western Reserve University
- Cleveland Institute of Art
- Cleveland State University -- COVID-19 vaccination required only for students living on campus
- John Carroll University
- Kent State University
- Oberlin College
- Ohio Dominican University
- Ohio State University
- Ohio University
- Miami University
- University of Akron
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Toledo
- The College of Wooster
Hospital staff:
Akron Children's Hospital: Akron Children's Hospital confirmed to 3News in August of plans to require its employees to be fully vaccinated for the coronavirus, or be subjected to mandatory COVID-19 testing.
MetroHealth: All employees of MetroHealth – including contractors and volunteers – will be required to get vaccinated by October 30.
Summa Health: All employees will have until October 17 to receive their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Performance Venues:
Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall: All audiences ages 12 and over must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a negative test completed within 72 hours of entering Severance Hall. The updated policies will apply to all guests at all concerts and events September 15.
Live Nation: Blossom Music Center, the House of Blues, and Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica will require vaccination or proof of a recent negative test starting on October 4.
Playhouse Square: Playhouse Square will be requiring all audience members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or if they cannot be vaccinated to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. The new policy will take effect on September 30.
The following venues have a vaccination requirement or negative test policy in place as of September 7:
- The Agora
- Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
- Bop Stop
- The Foundry
- Grog Shop
- Happy Dog
- Jilly's Music Room
- Mahall's
- Music Box Supper Club
- Musica
- The Nightlight
- The Rialto Theatre
- Westside Bowl
- The Winchester
Restaurants:
LBM: The Lakewood cocktail bar and lounge is requiring either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within the previous 72 hours for those dining indoors.
Felice Urban Cafe: The restaurant in Cleveland's Larchmere neighborhood, is requiring its customers to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours of their visit.
MOJO world eats & drink: The Cleveland Heights restaurant is requiring guests to show proof of vaccination."We take the health and well being of our guests and staff seriously and will continue to do so until this pandemic of the unvaccinated is under control," MOJO wrote on its Facebook page.
Toast: The restaurant in Cleveland's Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood will begin requiring guests to show proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test on October 1.
The restaurants of Boston Mills Brandywine ski resorts: Guests ages 12 and over will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations to dine at the indoor, on-mountain quick-service (cafeteria-style) restaurants at Brandywine, Boston Mills, and Alpine Valley. This requirement includes those guests 12 and over in ski and ride school programs that include lunch.
Special Events
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: All attendees of the Oct. 30 induction ceremony at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will be required to show proof that they have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus (14 days since the second shot) or proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of entering the venue. Each attendee will also have to provide an appropriate ID matching the name on their vaccination or testing documentation.
Great Lakes Brewing Company Christmas Ale 'First Pour': Great Lakes Brewing Company is requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test (taken within 72 hours) for any guest to take part in this year's festivities on October 21. The brewpub will open promptly at 11 a.m., with the first fresh keg of Christmas Ale tapped at 11:30 a.m.
Mask Requirements
Many local school districts, businesses, and other institutions have put mask mandates back into place. Here is our running list:
Schools
You can track our complete list of Northeast Ohio schools and their mask policies here.
Here are a few mask policies of note in the area:
- Akron Public Schools will require face coverings for students and staff, regardless of vaccination status.
- Avon Lake City Schools will require face masks inside all K-6 buildings beginning August 30.
- Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools is requiring all students and staff in grades K-5 to wear masks "until further notice."
- Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools are requiring masks and face coverings for students in all grade levels. Staff who work with these grade levels are also required to wear a mask while indoors, as well as visitors.
- For the first five weeks of the school year, students, staff, and guests of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District will be required to wear masks, whether they are vaccinated for COVID-19 or not.
- Lorain City Schools is requiring masks to be worn by students and staff starting on August 26.
- Mayfield City Schools is mandating face masks in all school buildings for all students, teachers, staff and visitors in grades Pre-K-12. The district says it will review the mandate weekly and give updates at regular Board of Education meetings
- Mentor Public Schools changed course in August and is now requiring masks to be worn by all students and staff.
- The Nordonia Hills City School District reversed course and voted to require masks for all students and teachers this fall.
- Olmsted Falls City Schools has put a mask mandate into place. It will be reevaluated on September 17.
- The Solon City School District is now mandating masks for all students, staff, and visitors beginning Sept. 8.
- Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools also are requiring masks for students, staff, and visitors after 25 cases of COVID-19 were reported during the first week of classes.
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health is recommending that all county teachers, staff, students and visitors wear masks when indoors in a school setting, regardless of vaccination status.
Here is an updated list of the stores once again requiring masks to be worn by employees (and in some cases, customers):
Stores
Giant Eagle: Giant Eagle supermarket and GetGo employees are required to wear a face mask while guests are being strongly encouraged to wear a mask regardless of their COVID-19 vaccine status, according to a release from the company.
Home Depot: All employees, including associates, contractors and vendors, are required to wear masks in all store locations nationwide. Customers will also be asked to wear a mask while in the store. Free masks will be offered to those who need one.
Walmart: The mask rule is back for employees at Walmart and Sam's Club stores in areas rated by the CDC to be at substantial or high risk for COVID-19. The company says it will encourage, but not mandate that customers wear masks.
Target: Face coverings are required for Target employees and "strongly recommended" for all customers in areas with substantial or high risk of transmission, as defined by the CDC.
Lowe's: Employees are required to wear masks indoors at all U.S. locations and while working in a customer’s home or business — regardless of vaccination status. Customers are being encouraged to wear masks, and free masks will be available for those who request them.
McDonald's: All customers and employees must wear masks at locations in areas with high or substantial rates of COVID-19 transmission. A face-covering is required at McDonald's outlets nationwide for unvaccinated patrons and crew members.
Starbucks: Face coverings are again being required for all staff members. Starbucks “strongly recommends customers wear facial coverings" while in stores, regardless of vaccination status. Where mandated by local law or regulation, Starbucks says it will require customers wear masks while in its stores.
Kohl's: The company is requiring masks for employees in counties identified by the CDC as having high or substantial transmission risk and recommending face-covering for all shoppers in those areas.
Other places of business
Amazon: Starting Aug. 10, all employees will have to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status and regardless of COVID-19 spread in the area.
Museums
Cleveland Museum of Art: Starting August 10, the CMA is requiring everyone––all visitors, staff, and volunteers––to wear a face covering inside the building.
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens As of August 13, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is now requiring guests to wear masks inside all indoor spaces on the estate.
Performing arts centers
Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall: Starting on September 15, masks will be required for anyone coming to an event or concert inside Severance Hall.
Playhouse Square: Masks are required for entry into all areas of Playhouse Square, regardless of vaccination status
Universities with mask mandates
Hospitals with mask mandates
Cuyahoga County
All employees and the public, regardless of their vaccination status, must wear masks in all county buildings. Cuyahoga County health leaders are recommending that masks be worn by everyone in the county while indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
Summit County
Is also recommending all individuals, vaccinated or unvaccinated, wear masks indoors until further notice.
City of Akron
All Akron city employees and others entering city buildings will be required to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The policy takes effect on August 9.
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