Starting at 6 p.m. Friday, March 11, masks will be optional in most indoor spaces on The Ohio State University campuses, including residence halls, dining facilities, classrooms, offices and the Ohio Union.While the university continues to require masks in clinical health care settings (including at the Wexner Medical Center), COVID-19 testing locations, child care centers and on public transportation, Ohio State will be lifting indoor mask requirements in its academic and general-purpose buildings.
For most spaces, the updated masking policy will take effect at 6 p.m. on March 11, with the start of the university’s spring break. Public events, such as those that take place in Athletics venues, are mask optional, effective immediately.
Athletics concessions and dining
We appreciate everyone’s patience as we have worked to respond to health and safety needs, while providing the on-campus experiences our community desires. Following are some updates we hope you will find helpful:
Starting with the Feb. 3 men’s basketball game in the Schottenstein Center against Iowa, concessions will resume at all athletic events, with the full menu available for events later in February.
We appreciate fans’ commitment to mask-wearing at events.
The Ohio State Department of Athletics looks forward to welcoming fans back to its athletic venues. With events beginning this week, starting with a scheduled women’s basketball game vs. Illinois Thursday, the department would like to share, in conjunction with Ohio State University’s return to campus guidelines, an important update regarding health and safety measures.
Beginning immediately, concessions will be closed at all university-related athletic events. Water will be available. Fans will not be permitted to bring food/beverage into athletic facilities. The department will continue to monitor and evaluate this policy moving forward and communicate any changes when applicable.
The university and City of Columbus policies require wearing of masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, for all faculty, staff and invitees. The department requires all patrons at our events to wear your mask at all times for your own safety and for the health, safety and well-being of others, including our student-athletes, campus community and visitors.
Guidance on the best type and fit of masks continues to evolve. The university strongly recommends surgical grade masks. Double-masking is recommended for those using cloth masks. University community members are encouraged to regularly check the CDC guidance on masks and other health and safety measures, including the Safe and Healthy Buckeyes webpage found here:
The university and the Department of Athletics encourage individuals to get vaccinated, boostered and to continue safety protocols. Vaccination and booster shots, in combination with mask-wearing, proactive testing, washing hands and other health measures, can dramatically reduce the risk of serious illness.
The Ohio State Department of Athletics wishes everyone season’s greetings and a safe and enjoyable start to the New Year. With events returning to our athletics venues this week, the department would like to issue an important reminder.
University and City of Columbus policies are to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. The department encourages and urges all patrons at our events to wear your mask at all times for your own safety and for the health, safety and well-being of others, including our student-athletes, campus community and visitors.
The Ohio State University is calling for another community-wide effort amid this nationwide surge of COVID-19 cases and emerging evidence about the new omicron variant, which is much more transmissible than previous strains of the virus.
The university and the Department of Athletics encourage individuals to get vaccinated, boostered and to continue safety protocols. Vaccination and booster shots, in combination with mask-wearing, proactive testing, washing hands and other health measures, can dramatically reduce the risk of serious illness.
