Sheleane Sackett of Niles wears a mask while placing groceries in her car Tuesday afternoon after shopping in Bazetta.

Beginning at 6 p.m. today, those in public in seven counties, including Trumbull, designated as Level 3 (red) high risk areas for COVID-19, are required — with exemptions — to wear face coverings.

“This order will stay in effect as long as these counties are in a red level or if they increase to the purple alert level 4,” Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday. “If the counties drop to a level 2, the requirement will drop off.”

If new counties reach the red level, they’ll automatically be included in the face-covering mandate, he said.

DeWine unveiled the color-coded level system on Thursday, with Trumbull reaching the second-highest level along with Huron, Montgomery, Butler, Cuyahoga, Hamilton and Franklin counties.

DeWine has refused to issue a statewide face mask mandate. But on Tuesday, he had the Ohio Department of Health issue the order for the seven counties, a day after having conversations with health commissioners there.

In red counties, “we must do more to help protect citizens because the risk of spread is increasing even more,” he said.

The Trumbull County Health District released a statement, “We will never get through this pandemic if we do not all do our part to faithfully follow these seven measures and make them a part of our daily routine. The wearing of masks, as well as the other risk reduction measures mentioned, will greatly reduce the risk of the spread of this virus to the most vulnerable in our community. Simply put … this will save lives.”

Those required to wear masks in those seven counties are those in any indoor location that is not a residence; when they are outdoors and unable to consistently maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from others; and when they are waiting for a ride, driving or operating public transportation, a taxi, a private care service or a ride-sharing service, DeWine said.

The order doesn’t apply to children under the age of 10 or any minor who cannot wear a face covering safely, he said.

The order also doesn’t require mask wearing if a person’s physician advises against it, if wearing a mask is prohibited by federal regulation, if communicating with the hearing impaired and when alone in our office or personal workspace.

The color-coded level system will be updated weekly on Thursdays, so it’s possible that counties will change levels.

Trumbull was at Level 3 because it reached four of seven total indicators. Those were: an average of at least 50 cases per 100,000 people over a two-week period, more than 50 percent of cases originated from non-congregate settings during at least one of the past three weeks, a sustained increase in emergency room visits over a five-day period and an increase in outpatient hospitalization visits over a five-day period.

Those in the Level 3 counties who don’t comply with the health order are subject to being charged with a second-degree misdemeanor, which is what others could face for not complying with other health orders. It’s been a rarity for anyone to be charged during the pandemic.

“We’re not looking to see people arrested,” DeWine said. “That’s not the idea at all. The idea is this is the norm.”

LOCAL REACTION

Trumbull County Commissioner Dan Polivka said he is optimistic the county soon will be out of the red zone, and masks no longer will be required.

Commissioner Frank Fuda said he is glad DeWine issued the mandate.

“My phone has been ringing off the hook with calls from people all over the county complaining about people not wearing masks. I’m glad the state-mandated mask wearing so that it didn’t depend on local officials too afraid to make the ruling themselves for political reasons,” Fuda said.

Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa said the virus numbers have been trending in the wrong direction in Trumbull County and it has been “worrisome.”

“I think we all went through this period where we sort of collectively let our guards down and became a little more lax. … It’s human nature because we were exhausted with it. Right now we need to refocus and be vigilant because we control our own destiny here. I applaud the efforts of the governor as I think he’s wasted no time with this. We need to do everything we can locally to enforce those measures and make sure everyone complies with the mandate. Too much is at stake, and safeguarding this community remains our first priority,” Cantalamessa said.

Warren Mayor Doug Franklin said he will have to look closely at DeWine’s orders to determine what measures the city can take to enforce policies announced Tuesday.

During a city council finance committee meeting on Tuesday, Franklin said he had been contemplating a citywide outdoor mask policy throughout the weekend. He had meetings with local health officials and had been in contact with mayors in other communities that already are enforcing face mask-wearing policies.

Franklin emphasized that whatever course the city will take will be done in concert with the advice of experts in health care and law enforcement.

“What we have done and are continuing to do is data driven,” Franklin said. “I prefer a statewide policy because the virus is not a respecter of political boundaries.”

COVID DATA

The mask order came as the number of COVID-19 cases in the state continues to be high. The state reported 948 new cases Tuesday.

Overall, 58,904 COVID-19 cases were reported in the state as of Tuesday, with 41,438 people presumed recovered, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

The 2,721 cases reported during the first three days of this week are more than the total number of cases reported for the full weeks of May 31 and June 7.

The most cases reported in the state came last week at 6,728.

On Tuesday, Trumbull County recorded 999 cases, an increase of 18 from Monday. Trumbull has seen a 13.8 percent increase in cases from July 1 to Tuesday. It’s had 121 new cases during that time.

Mahoning County had 1,849 cases Tuesday, an increase of 17 from Monday.

Also Tuesday, Mahoning reported six additional COVID-19 deaths. A total of 43 total were listed in the state Tuesday, meaning Mahoning made up 14 percent of all reported COVID-19 deaths in Ohio that day.

Overall, the Mahoning Valley has posted 374 COVID-19 deaths as of Tuesday: 238 in Mahoning, 76 in Trumbull and 60 in Columbiana.

Trumbull reported one death Tuesday, a day after reporting five deaths.

Reporters Renee Fox and Raymond L. Smith contributed to this story.