Gov. Holcomb initiates mask mandate
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday will initiate a mask mandate that will last as long as it’s needed.
The governor, who will sign the order on Thursday, works as follows:
- Applies to anyone 8 or older in indoor public spaces, commercial entities or transportation services, or outside public spaces when people cannot socially distance.
- Mask use in schools required for Grade 3 and higher for faculty and staff, volunteers and anyone in schools. Masks also will be required for co-curricular and extracurricular activities, with exceptions for strenuous physical activity.
- Exceptions will be made for medical purposes, strenuous physical activity, eating, and drinking.
- Masks are strongly recommended for ages 2-7.
Indiana’s mask mandate comes after neighboring states have created mandates: Illinois, since May 1; Kentucky, May 11; and Michigan, June 18. Ohio’s mask mandate will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday. The governor said he does not regret waiting until now to mandate masks. He delayed the start of the mandate until Monday so people and their communities have time to adjust.
Holcomb said in the state’s Wednesday coronavirus briefing, “I know not everyone will be supportive of this mandate. Compliance and enforcement are always in question. Our approach, if you recall, since Day 1, since the very beginning of this pandemic, has an approach of education, of appealing to one’s civic duty and public good. You might even say public pride and being part of the solution. And it will continue to be.”
Failure to wear a mask under the order will be a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. But the governor added that “the mask police will not be patrolling Hoosier streets.”
The Indiana Attorney General Office said, following the Republican governor’s announcement, it received several inquiries from legislators and constituents regarding the proposed mask order. Attorney General Curtis Hill, a Republican who was recently defeated in his bid to seek reelection, issued an opinion Wednesday night calling on Holcomb to call a special legislative session to consider a statewide mask mandate rather than issuing an executive order.
A state news release says a mask or other face covering may be factory-made, sewn by hand, or improvised from household items such as scarfs, bandanas and T-shirts. The mouth and nose should be covered.
“Over the last several weeks, several things have happened,” the governor said.
Determining factors for the creation of the mask mandate:
- Get children back to school and keep Indiana businesses open and operating.
- Increase in the COVID-19 positivity rate. It has jumped to 9% from 7% on July 14.
- Increase in number of Hoosiers hospitalized for COVID-19.
- Additional counties seeing more cases.
- Increase in cases and positivity rates in neighboring states.
“We have, as Hoosiers, worked very hard to get to where we are today. Businesses are open and operating at various levels of capacity. People are getting haircuts, myself included,” Holcomb said. “We’re eating in restaurants and we’re working in all kinds of facilities, both large and small. And if you want to keep it that way, we want businesses to stay open, we want more Hoosiers to continue this trend of going back safely to work. We don’t want to dial it back or put it in reverse or, as some are, shutting down again. Face coverings can and will help us blunt this increase. It has in other places around the country and, indeed, around the world.
“And this is time-sensitive now. It’s that time of the year, after all, when schools are going back. This might be one of the most important reasons, when you really stop and think about it, for all of us to wear face coverings. We’re asking our kids and their teachers to mask up. And our kids should not be getting mixed messages throughout the day. When they leave school grounds they need to see that everyone is doing what they’re doing. That best practices are best for all, by slowing or stopping the unknowingly transmission of COVID-19.”
Dr. Lindsay Weaver, chief medical officer of the Indiana State Department of Health, said a growing number of newer studies have shown the wearing of cloth face coverings have helped reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The masks can reduce the distance of droplets from a cough or sneeze can spread. Some studies have shown the masks reduce transmission of the virus by up to 80%.
Jagdish Khubchandani, a Ball State University health researcher, said in a statement, “Irrefutable evidence now exists for the utility of masks. Absent a vaccine or medication, the only solution we have is to wear a mask. We now know enough about mode of transmission as well, so its dual evidence — both for spread and for preventive measures such as masks. The largest study to date commissioned by the WHO (World Health Organization) guarantees the benefits of masks.”
Khubchandani said people should expect to wear masks for at least for the next year. “Things are evolving, but I am sure the pandemic will stay for a long time and will have residual effects as well,” the Ball State researcher said.
“Business can say no to people for services if they refuse to wear a mask,” Khubchandani said. “These signs can be posted at the entrance. Not every open business was expecting people to wear a mask. It was a choice of the business owner in Indiana. However, not this will change and we must understand how this minimal requirement can save lives and bring normalcy to our lives. People in Asia are used to mask wearing as an additional accessory with numerous benefits. Like when you go to an airport, you are required to do certain things (such as) remove shoes for security checks.”
On Wednesday, the Indiana State Department of Health announced 763 new COVID-19 cases and 14 additional deaths. The 763 COVID-19 cases are from July 21 and the new deaths are from between June 19 and July 21. In total, there are 58,673 COVID-19 cases and 2,666 deaths related to the virus in Indiana. According to the department, there have been 654,413 tests administered in the state.
The state currently has 214 coronavirus testing sites. The testing is free.
The governor said the next coronavirus briefing will be at 2:30 p.m. July 29. Holcomb expects Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch to present announcements from the state’s economic recovery committee at that briefing.