The Ohio Department of Health will not be issuing COVID-19 preventative mandates such as wearing masks when classes resume in public schools this fall.

During a news conference on Monday,  ODH Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff announced that the state will issue guidance for schools on Tuesday.

Those recommendations will include that all staff and eligible students be vaccinated and that unvaccinated students wear masks.

The state will also recommend preventative measures such as improved classroom ventilation, maximizing social distancing, and proper hand sanitation.

Vanderhoff says that although children are less likely to contract COVID-19, they are not invincible, adding that they can get sick from COVID and spread it to others.

Saying that in-person learning is important, Vanderhoff says it can be conducted safely if schools follow the essential recommendations.

Vanderhoff said the recommendations would not prevent a school district from enacting its own rules for mask-wearing and other health precautions.

Describing the current uptick in COVID-19 cases as a "pandemic of the unvaccinated", Vanderhoff said that only a fraction of a percent of those who are fully vaccinated have been hospitalized.

Also taking part in the media briefing was Dr. Patty Manning-Courtney of Cincinnati Children's hospital who addressed the lack of a vaccine for people 12 and under.

Dr. Manning-Courtney said it would be a sad day if that pre-teen age group were infected from those people eligible for a vaccine, but chose not to get the shot.