Governor’s mask mandate changing to advisory starting April 6
By GREGG MONTGOMERY and DEMIE JOHNSON
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Indiana will begin allowing the vaccination of Hoosiers age 16 and older starting March 31, the governor said in a live address Tuesday.
Holcomb
In addition, the state’s mask mandate will become a mask advisory starting April 6, Gov. Eric Holcomb said. K-12 schools will keep their existing mask requirements through the end of the school year. Face coverings will remain mandatory in state buildings and facilities, and at coronavirus vaccination and testing sites.
The announcement received mixed reviews from people; some were excited and others said it will be too soon.
Kori Garland is a nurse who thinks the state is moving too fast. “It’s really, really frustrating to see them lift it right now knowing that we could just as easily go back to a point where we don’t have masks and face shields and we’re getting really, really rundown at the hospital.”
Also on April 6, local officials will take control of any limits on the size of gatherings at various venues. Customers in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs will no longer be required by the state to be seated, and social distancing and other spacing of seating will still be recommended between parties not from the same household.
Local governments, private businesses, and other entities may institute more stringent guidelines.
Holcomb also noted that 970,000 Hoosiers have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The governor will renew the state’s latest health emergency order to continue through April to allow the state to address any change in the severity of the coronavirus and to keep federal funds open for the hardest-hit Hoosiers.