(LaPorte, IN) - LaPorte's chief health officer, with approval from the LaPorte County Commissioners, has issued a mask advisory, meaning mask-wearing is recommended in all indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status.

 

Dr. Sandra Deausy issued the statement Tuesday in response to LaPorte County still being in the Red Covid category. According to the report, LaPorte County has logged 500 new cases of COVID-19 per week this month.

 

The advisory echoes the advice of the CDC, which recommends "the use of face masks while indoors near others outside of your family unit, regardless of vaccination status, in areas of high transmission." Such an advisory is non-binding. Earlier this year, the State Legislature removed the authority to mandate from local health officials unless elected officials, like County Commissioners, authorize it.

 

LaPorte County Commissioner Sheila Matias says they have not reached a consensus on the matter.

 

"Last week, I spoke via email with Dr. Deausy," she said. "And she indicated that she believes, based on her experience, that we should have a mask mandate or a mask advisory. I got Commissioner Mrozinski and myself to support a mask advisory; Commissioner Haney did not support anything like that."

The Health Department's mask advisory recommends masking in schools and continued testing and quarantining.