Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb waits for the arrival of Vice President Mike Pence aboard Air Force Two at Grissom Air Reserve Base on April 30.
Gov. Eric Holcomb announces Wednesday that Hoosiers will be required to wear masks in public places beginning Monday.
Gov. Eric Holcomb will sign an executive order Thursday directing Hoosiers to wear face coverings, such as masks, in all public spaces where it's not possible to maintain 6 feet of social distancing.
The Republican chief executive said the face mask requirement takes effect Monday in all 92 Indiana counties and every community across the state, and will remain in effect indefinitely to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19.
He said the requirement to cover one's mouth and nose in public applies to every person age 8 and older whether living in or visiting Indiana, and face coverings are recommended for children between ages 2 and 7.
Face masks also will be mandatory in schools for students in third grade and above, all teachers, and other school building personnel and visitors.
"The simple act of covering our faces, as odd as it may feel, can help us prevent the transmission of the virus, which is why this is the next prudent step that we as a state need to take," Holcomb said.
The governor explained that a mask mandate, in addition to protecting Hoosier health amid the coronavirus pandemic, will help ensure Indiana's economy can remain open, even as the COVID-19 case count and hospitalizations increase in the state and across the country.
"I want to stay open. I want to continue to not just make sure that it's safe to go back, whether it's school or it's work. But that we have the ability to get our economy still moving," Holcomb said. "This is about lives and livelihoods."
Holcomb said it's also about setting an example for children, who he contends will be more inclined to wear masks in school if they see adults doing it everywhere else, rather than schoolchildren getting "mixed messages" throughout the day about the need for masks.
"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, many times, the unknowing transmission of COVID-19," Holcomb said.
The governor said his mask order will include exemptions for circumstances where face coverings are impractical, such as dentist office and medical patients, during strenuous exercise, and while eating and drinking in restaurants.
At the same time, Holcomb said individuals who fail or refuse to wear a mask in a public place where it is required can be charged with a class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced he will sign an executive order directing Hoosiers to wear face masks in public places where it's not possible to maintain six feet of social distancing.
But Holcomb earnestly hopes Hoosiers, bolstered by pride in their state, will voluntarily comply with the requirement, and he said law enforcement will not be out looking for opportunities to ticket or arrest people not wearing masks.
"The mask police will be not be patrolling Hoosier streets," Holcomb said. "We are going to continue to try to appeal to Hoosiers to do the right thing."
The governor's mask order comes after all of Indiana's neighboring states imposed similar mandates to wear face coverings in public places where social distancing is not possible, including Illinois where masks have been required since May 1.
Holcomb said the timing is right for all Hoosiers to "mask up" to bring some consistency to what he described as a "hodgepodge" of local mask orders — of dubious enforceability — to keep the virus under control in Indiana, and to save businesses in the state from a potential second shutdown.
"So many of our businesses are back online. We're seeing positive trends," Holcomb said. "We're moving in the right direction. We want to continue moving in the right direction."
Meanwhile, Holcomb appeared to have little patience for individuals who claim that wearing a face mask will deprive them of oxygen, or otherwise physically damage their bodies.
Together with state health leaders, Holcomb urged Indiana residents to reject questionable mask-related medical advice found on the internet, and to recognize that tens of thousands of Hoosiers already wear masks at their jobs every day, with no negative physical impacts.
"You can breathe in and out with those just like you can without one on. So no worries about toxins, no worries about carbon dioxide retention," said Dr. Jennifer Sullivan, secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. "There's lots of reasons to be scared right now. Masks are not one of them."
The governor's mask order immediately was endorsed by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the Indiana Hospital Association and the Indiana State Medical Association.
Dr. Woody Myers, the Democratic candidate for governor, likewise applauded Holcomb's directive while asking what took so long.
"Gov. Eric Holcomb stalled for months, caving to the anti-science conservatives — taking action only when every single state surrounding us implemented a mask order," Myers said.
This story will be updated. Check back at nwi.com for updates on this story.
How do NWI school reentry plans compare?
Crown Point Community School Corp. Bulldog Back to School Plan
Where’s your school’s plan? cps.k12.in.us
Options: Hybrid learning first nine weeks.
Schedule: Students will meet in person two days a week and participate in remote learning the remainder of the week.
Masks: Required in most contexts, except when eating or in classrooms where social distancing is appropriate.
Important dates: Students' first day of school has been pushed back from Aug. 19 to Aug. 24.
Duneland School Corp. Reentry Plan
Where’s your school’s plan? duneland.k12.in.us
Options: Duneland began on a hybrid learning model. Students are expected to transition to four days a week in-person, with a full virtual option available, in October.
Schedule: In the district's hybrid model, students attend class two-to-three days a week in-person in an alphabetically determined rotation. When not meeting in-person, students will be expected to keep up with remote learning assignments. As the district shifts to in-person learning, students will attend school in person four days a week with elearning on Wednesdays.
Masks: During the pandemic, students will be required to have a mask with them at all times. Students may be allowed to remove masks in classrooms when social distancing can be maintained.
Important dates: Students' first day delayed from Aug. 12 to Aug. 25. Four days a week in-person to begin Oct. 5.
East Porter County School Corp. Return to Learn
Where’s your school’s plan? eastporter.k12.in.us
Options: On campus or elearning.
Schedule: Students on campus will follow a traditional school schedule. Remote students must attend all recorded or live instruction sessions and communicate with teachers during school hours.
Masks: Masks are recommended when riding the bus, when dropping a student off to enter the school building and where social distancing is not possible.
Important dates: Students’ first day is Aug. 12.
Gary Community School Corp. 2020-2021 School Re-Entry
Where’s your school’s plan? garycsc.k12.in.us/2020-2021-school-re-entry
Options: All virtual start to school year.
Schedule: More information to come.
Masks: Masks will be required at certain times for all students and staff.
Important dates: Students’ first day of Aug. 12 delayed to Aug. 17 following power and internet connectivity outages.
Griffith Public Schools Return to Learn
Where’s your school’s plan? griffith.k12.in.us
Options: Virtual for first four weeks. In-person instruction to continue after.
Schedule: Online learning to be provided by Griffith teachers.
Masks: Masks will be required, but may be removed where social distancing is appropriate. Face shields may also be used.
Important dates: Students' first day of instruction will begin Aug. 19, pushed back from the district's original start date of Aug. 12. In-person instruction resumes Sept. 16.
Hanover Community Schools Re-Entry Plan
Where’s your school’s plan? hanover.k12.in.us
Options: In-person or elearning.
Schedule: Five days a week of instruction. Virtual instruction will be provided by licensed Hanover teachers.
Masks: Masks are strongly encouraged where six feet of social distancing cannot be maintained and required on school buses, in restrooms and when visiting an office.
Important dates: Online registration packets will be made available to parents in late July. Students’ first day is Aug. 19.
Lake Central School Corp. Return to School
Where’s your school’s plan? lcsc.us
Options: In person or online learning.
Schedule: Five days per week for in-person instruction; minimum five hours a day for grades 1-6, and six hours for grades 7-12, if choosing elearning option.
Masks: Masks will be required anytime students and staff cannot maintain six feet of distance. They will not be required while in classrooms if students are working individually and facing the same direction.
Important dates: School board members approved a delayed start date of Aug. 17, pushed back from Aug. 12.
Lake Ridge New Tech Schools IN Class Re-Entry Plan 2020-21
Where’s your school’s plan? lakeridge.k12.in.us
Options: Remote learning for first nine weeks.
Schedule: Remote students will receive education from teachers as they would in the classroom with some live teaching sessions or recorded lessons being provided.
Masks: Staff and students will be required to have a mask with them at all times.They will be required to be worn in certain settings such as on school buses, moving throughout school buildings, and speaking to others face-to-face.
Important dates: Students' first day was delayed from Aug. 19 to Sept. 2.
LaPorte Community School Corp. Getting Back on Track
Where’s your school’s plan? www.lpcsc.k12.in.us
Options: In-person, LPCSC-led distance learning, or LPCSC Homeschool Academy.
Schedule:Distance learning will require a nine week (grades K-8) or semester-long (9-12) commitment. LPCSC Homeschool Academy is a full school year commitment.
Masks: Masks will be available for students and staff and worn as much as reasonably possible. Some students may be considered medically exempt. See full school plan for more details.
Important dates: Registration for traditional in-person, LPCSC distance learning and LPCSC Homeschool Academy is required by Aug. 5. Students' first day is Aug. 24.
Merrillville Community School Corp. Re-Entry Plan
Where’s your school’s plan? mvsc.k12.in.us
Options: Virtual learning first trimester.
Masks: Students must have a mask with them at all times. Masks can be removed at lunch or where social distancing is possible.
Important dates: Students' first day is Aug. 20.
Michigan City Area Schools Reopening 2020
Where’s your school’s plan? educateMC.net/reopening
Options: All online until fall break. In-person or one of two Michigan City online learning plans available upon building reopening on Oct. 19.
Schedule: Five days a week with daily guidance either in-person or online of instructor, or self-paced online model for students not intending to return to traditional learning in future years.
Masks: Visitors, students and staff must have masks with them at all times.
Important dates: Students’ first day is Aug. 24 with a potential return to in-person instruction based on community coronavirus positivity rates on Oct. 19.
Portage Township Schools Re-Entry Plan
Where’s your school’s plan? www.portage.k12.in.us
Options: All Portage students' learning will be virtual for the first quarter of the school year. Grades K-6 to return in-person in the second quarter. Grades 7-12 will return in hybrid with full virtual available to both sets of students.
Schedule: Grades K-6 will attend five days a week in person. Grades 7-12 will return in a hybrid model, attending either Mondays and Tuesdays or Thursdays and Fridays in person. All other days will be elearning.
Important dates: Students will begin their first day of virtual learning on Aug. 12. In-person learning to begin Oct. 20.
School City of East Chicago Protect Cardinal Plan
Where’s your school’s plan? scec.k12.in.us
Options: Virtual learning for first nine weeks. In-person or virtual instruction offered in second quarter.
Schedule: Synchronous instruction will be led for students on a daily schedule from East Chicago classrooms. Students will transition to four days a week of in-person instruction in late October. Wednesdays will be remote learning days for all students.
Masks: Required in most contexts, except when eating or in classrooms where social distancing is appropriate. Visitors, students and staff must have masks with them at all times.
Important dates: Teachers' first day is Aug. 12. Instruction begins for students on Aug. 17. Students to transition to in-person instruction beginning Oct. 26.
School City of Hammond Re-Open Plan
Where’s your school’s plan? hammond.k12.in.us
Options: Virtual learning for first semester.
Schedule: Students will be taught on a a school day schedule with attendance taken daily, with exceptions for in-person career and special education programs.
Masks: Masks must be work by everyone in common spaces such as hallways, cafeterias, washrooms and teacher work rooms.
Important dates: Students’ first day is Aug. 19.
School City of Hobart Protect Brickies Plan
Where’s your school’s plan? hobart.k12.in.us/ProtectBrickies
Options: Choice of in person or elearning.
Schedule: Five days a week of in-person instruction or virtual elearning for all students following set school day schedule.
Masks: Students and staff are required to have a mask with them at all times. Required in most contexts, except when eating or in classrooms where social distancing is appropriate.
Important dates: Students’ first day pushed back from Aug. 12 to Aug. 24.
School Town of Highland School Reopening Framework
Where’s your school’s plan? highland.k12.in.us
Options: Online instruction for first nine weeks.
Schedule: Online students will receive instruction from a school town employee via Google Classroom or another online instructional program.
Masks: Required in most contexts, except when eating or in classrooms where distancing is appropriate.
Important dates: Student registration begins online Aug. 3. Students’ first day is Aug. 12.
Valparaiso Community Schools Return to Learn
Where’s your school’s plan? valpo.k12.in.us
Options: In-person or remote learning.
Schedule: Valparaiso Community Schools reopened five days a week in person. Remote learners will be assigned classes and consistent instructors in an effort to provide education synchronous to students’ in-person peers. The districts transitions to Wednesday e-learning days beginning Sept. 23.
Masks: Face masks are recommended at all times. Masks will be required where social distancing is not possible.
Important dates: Students’ first day is Aug. 12. Once-a-week e-learning days will take place every Wednesday from Sept. 23 to Dec. 9.
Dan Carden
Chief Political Reporter
Dan has reported on Indiana state government for The Times since 2009. He also covers casinos, campaigns and corruption.
