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City And County Officials Push For Face Mask Use In Public, Rely On "Better Nature" Of Public

Holcomb pointed last week to the renewed growth in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations in announcing the statewide mask order.
Holcomb pointed last week to the renewed growth in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations in announcing the statewide mask order.

Though  the Centers For Disease Control recommends wearing a facemask in public, the State of Indiana hasn’t required them. 

No mask requirements have been issued by Monroe County or Bloomington. 

Businesses are allowed to refuse service to people not wearing masks.

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton says stricter rules about masks could be implemented on a state, county or city level.

"The governor could require mask wearing, we have in certain settings," he says. "But we could require every customer in a restaurant or retail store to wear a mask. Certain sates have done it-Ohio and Kentucky our neighbors.”

Hamilton says the city and county have worked hard to remain consistent with each other.

Julie Thomas is the president of the Monroe County Commissioners. She says the county does not have the resouces to enforce a face mask requirement.

“It’s very difficult for us to police and enforce the whole community in that way,” she says." We don't have the capability to roam through the community and ticket people."

She says local government is relying on the public’s better nature to wear masks  to protect each other.

Hamilton agrees that enforcement of a mask requirement would be difficult. 

For the latest news and resources about COVID-19, bookmark our Coronavirus In Indiana page here.

Bente Bouthier is a reporter and show producer with WFIU and WTIU News. She graduated from Indiana University in 2019, where she studied journalism, public affairs, and French.