A woman in a mask heads past CVS Pharmacy on Kirkwood Avenue Wednesday. People across the county are now required to wear masks based on a new health order issued Friday. (Rich Janzaruk / Herald-Times)
A woman in a mask heads past CVS Pharmacy on Kirkwood Avenue Wednesday. People across the county are now required to wear masks based on a new health order issued Friday. (Rich Janzaruk / Herald-Times)
Monroe County now joins a list of Indiana communities that require face coverings to be worn in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Monroe County Health Officer Thomas Sharp and the Monroe County Health Department released a new health order on Friday. It includes a face covering requirement that began at 5 p.m. Friday. The requirement is for everyone over 2 years old, with some exceptions.

Monroe County Health Administrator Penny Caudill said all individuals must wear a face shield, a face covering or a mask over the nose and mouth when indoors at places other than their home or family member’s residence and outdoors when maintaining a social distance of at least six feet is not possible.

Similar to other Indiana communities, there are exceptions to the face covering requirement. According to the order, these include individuals who are hearing or speaking impaired and for whom a face covering is an obstacle to communication; alone in a room; traveling in personal vehicles; engaged in indoor or outdoor physical exercise; incarcerated; and in emergency situations.

Monroe County joins communities such as West Lafayette, which issued an order making face coverings mandatory on Monday. The emergency order states that those who do not wear a mask can face a fine up to $100 for the first offense and up to $250 for subsequent offenses. Summons for a violation would be issued by the city’s code enforcement officers.
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