(La Porte County, IN) - A COVID crunch is closing in on La Porte County. The status of Porter and Lake Counties to the east were recently elevated to level red.

In the other direction, St. Joseph County and now Marshall County are issuing fines for people not wearing masks.  On Friday, Marshall County leaders adopted an ordinance allowing punitive measures up to a $100 fine for individuals or businesses that defy the mask mandate. A similar order went into effect in St. Joe County last week.

La Porte County Commissioner Dr. Vidya Kora says no such measures are in the works here. "When we passed the mask ordinance several months ago, our intention was really not to be punitive, but to use it as an educational opportunity," Kora says. "I think that is the approach all three of us felt comfortable [with], but we have not discussed about any kind of punitive measures."

Personally, Kora says he is not keen on the approach of issuing punishments for mask violations. Kora says he hopes LaPorte residents will continue wearing masks for their own safety and for the well-being of others.