'It's about time': COVID-19 mask order goes into effect in Indiana

BJ Brandt had a doctor’s appointment Monday morning before getting groceries at Meijer in New Albany, Indiana. It was a typical routine for the 68-year-old before returning to her home in Sellersburg.

But there was one thing different, she said. More people were wearing masks.

“It’s about time," Brandt said of a statewide mask order that went into effect Monday. "I don’t like it. I’m hot. But it’s what we got to do.”

Gov. Eric Holcomb issued the mask order, which lasts until Aug. 26, to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. On Monday, the Indiana State Department of Health reported an additional 561 cases and three deaths from the coronavirus. That brings the state's totals to 62,907 cases and 2,709 deaths.

An additional 197 probable deaths from COVID-19 have been reported. Probable deaths are based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test was recorded.

According to the Indiana State Department of Health, as of Sunday, 924 Clark County residents have tested positive for the coronavirus, including 12 overnight and 142 in the last seven days. In Floyd County, 583 have tested positive, including six overnight and 93 in the last seven days.

According to Holcomb's order, all those who are 8 years old or older must wear a face covering in indoor public spaces or outdoors when social distancing of 6 feet is not possible. A face covering also is required while using public transportation, taxi, private car service or ride-sharing vehicles.

In Kentucky:What bars and restaurants are saying about Beshear's latest restrictions

Masks are also required in schools for faculty, staff and students in third grade and above.

In Floyd County, the health department passed a stricter order requiring all people who are 3 years old and up to wear a mask beginning last Friday.

Across the river in Kentucky, a mask order went into effect more than two weeks ago, and Gov. Andy Beshear ordered bars to close and restaurants to reduce capacity beginning Tuesday.

Brandt said Indiana’s statewide order was necessary. “My opinion is we’re going to be sorry down the road if we don’t nip this in the buds now," she said. "Everybody needs to sacrifice. It’s not a big deal to have to wear a mask.”

It was “heartbreaking” for Brandt when she saw her niece last week but couldn’t hug her because she wanted to maintain her distance. But along with wearing a mask, it’s one of the sacrifices that Brandt — who said she is in the at-risk population because of her age, a recent neck surgery and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — is taking as Indiana has seen a rise of COVID-19 cases recently.

“I think everybody should have been doing it a long time ago,” said Angie Gerka, a teacher’s assistant at New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. “I think if everybody would do it, maybe we can go back to normal again. I think we need to do that.”

The return to normal in New Albany-Floyd won’t happen at least until Labor Day, as board members voted to push back the first day of school by two weeks.

As a staff member of the school district, Gerka saw the “behind-the-scene” process of providing a safe environment for the students and believes it’s fine to return to school. Now, she just wants the rest of the community to work together to flatten the curve.

“I think it’s going to be the same way it has been,” she said. "The people who are considerate and care about other people are going to wear them. The people that are too selfish to wear are going to say it doesn’t matter. I think until we get everyone doing it, we’re not going to get rid of this thing.”

See also:Virus testing center in Clarksville sees 'huge upswing' in younger people

Despite the order in effect, not wearing a mask does not warrant a punishment.

Holcomb said last week that enforcement would not be strict but that failing to wear a mask in public would be a Class B misdemeanor. However, criminal penalties were no longer part of the mandate when he signed the executive order Friday.

“We prefer to work with the public and address things from an education standpoint. That being said, mask compliance has been poor in the last few weeks, and we’ve seen an upswing in activity,” said Dr. Eric Yazel, Clark County's health officer.

He said that 323 tests were administrated in the Clarksville testing center last Friday and that Clark Memorial Health has seen a surge in admissions due to the coronavirus.

“If a mask mandate increases compliance and helps stop the spread and we don’t see people getting sick and we’re able to stay open, I do support it," Yazel said. "I do think we’ll have to get more aggressive and see more options if we either have businesses that are refusing to enforce it or individual who we’re getting complaints on over and over again.

“Do I plan on sending health department people out in the community just to look and enforce it? No. Are we going to have our eyes open when we go about every day or consistent complaints? Yes.”

Several Hoosiers questioned the efficacy of mask enforcement but echoed that wearing a mask is the best way to flatten the curve again.

“I think masks should have been definitely required when we opened,” said Nina Hodges of New Albany. “But I don’t know that it should be enforced. I just feel like people should do the right thing.”

See also:New Albany-Floyd County Schools pushes back the first day of school

David J. Kim: DKim@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @_DavidJKim. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.