The Monroe County Board of Health extended the county-wide mask mandate through January during its Thursday meeting.
IU athletic director Scott Dolson began the meeting and addressed the board’s concerns about mask disobedience at IU basketball games. He said IU Athletics completely supports the mandate but struggles to enforce it.
“This is not at all athletics thinking it’s no big deal or we’re not supportive,” Dolson said. “We are right there with you arm-in-arm and trust me on that. We want the same things you want.”
Board member Dr. Stephen Pritchard said he attends every home basketball game and observed about 50 people seated near court without masks during a men’s game.
“I understand they’re big donors and they have expensive seats, but there ought to be a nice way to encourage them,” Pritchard said. “And if they care, which they obviously do, they should have their masks on down there.”
Board member Dr. Carol Touloukian asked Dolson if IU considered closing concessions to better enforce the mandate. Dolson said concessions add to the fan experience and the change would not go over well. However, he is interested to hear what his Big Ten counterparts say about the idea.
County attorney Margie Rice said the county and IU struggle with similar enforcement issues.
“You know at some point you have to wonder if what we’re doing is making a difference,” she said. “I mean we’ve had it in place and our numbers have increased.”
Monroe County is at 260 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people. At this time last month, it was at 123 cases per 100,000.
READ MORE: COVID-19 hospitalizations rise as an estimated 1 in 10 Hoosiers has active infection
Additionally, Rice updated the board on the possibility of the governor’s health emergency expiring, and thus ending its ability to enforce a mask mandate.
She said it’s unclear what state legislators might do next month, but county commissioners could legally implement a local emergency by way of the emergency management department.
