Indiana mask mandate to continue through Sept. 25

WISH-TV | wishtv.com

Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday said Indiana’s mask mandate will last through at least Sept 25.

The announcement came during a coronavirus briefing from Indiana officials via videoconference from the Statehouse. Additional topics addressed during the videoconference included absentee voting by mail, and two new programs for renters, landlords and homeowners facing evictions.

The governor initiated the mask mandate on July 27. It was set to expire Wednesday.

Box

Holcomb

Indiana’s coronavirus positivity rate was at 7.6 percent on July 27. That’s dropped to 6.6 percent on Aug. 19. The goal is to get that rate below 5 percent, said Holcomb and Dr. Kristina Box, the state’s health commissioner. However, both said there is no clear criteria for when the mask mandate, social distancing, hand washing or other measures to prevent the virus could end.

Indiana has recorded 3,041 deaths from COVID-19. Hoosiers have had more than 89,000 positive coronavirus tests since Feb. 26.

The Stage 4.5 reopening plan will remain, with no changes in capacity restrictions for restaurants, bars or entertainment venues, the governor added.

The governor said in July that the mandate works as follows:

• Applies to anyone age eight 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 two to seven.

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 percent from 7 percent 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.