Bloomington, Indiana – The country is facing probably the largest Covid-19 wave despite the vaccination efforts and Indiana is one of the states with rapid increase in the Covid-19 cases recently.
In on order to slow the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, CDC announced new mask guidelines especially in places with high infection rates and Monroe County decided to follow these guidelines.
According to the officials, everyone is required to wear face masks while indoors in Monroe County including all IU campuses regardless of their vaccination status starting Thursday.
The decision was brought on Wednesday in a Monroe County Board of Commissioners unanimous voting that mandates everyone to wear face covering in all public places in the county.
“It certainly was not something that we wanted to have to do. We hoped we would not be in a position to have to reinstate any kind of restrictions like we had earlier,” Penny Caudill, Monroe County Health Department administrator, said.
“Our numbers had been increasing and not decreasing, we’re seeing more delta variant reported … we really wanted to be proactive if you will and act quickly and hopefully that will then mean that we’re out of this quickly.”
The latest decision also requires businesses and stores to put a sign on their entrances to inform their clients that masks are mandatory.
The mask requirement will be into force at least until the end of September or until Monroe County reaches the “blue status category.”
The decision also covers the young children ages three or more. Children aged two or under will be exempted from the requirement. Other exemptions are people who are hearing or speaking impaired, people who are incarerated and those sitting at a restaurant or bar do not need to wear a face mask.
Shortly after this decision passed the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, Indiana University announced that all students, faculty and staff will be obligated to wear face coverings in all IU facilities. This will also include visitors. Masks will not be required outdoors.
Caudill says the health department frequently communicates with IU, but the return of students did not have a large impact on the mask mandate.
“It certainly is a factor in it, but it is really just our numbers and the delta variant and what we’re seeing happen without the students, so then you think that you add even more people to your population, you have a greater risk,” she said.
The Covid-19 situation will be monitored closely and additional measures will be taken in accordance with the local Covid-19 condition.
