SOUTH BEND — St. Joseph County health officials have extended the order on face masks through March 2021.
The order was set to expire at the end of December. Health officials said they needed to extend the order through March 31 since COVID-19 vaccines are not yet widely available.
The public health order requires people inside businesses or enclosed public spaces to wear a face covering where 6 feet of distancing cannot be maintained. It also requires businesses to post signage and provide hand sanitizer near high-touch surfaces.
Masks should cover the mouth and nose, and fit snugly against the sides of the face.
The order recommends that children younger than age 6 wear masks but does not require them to do so. It also exempts people with certain conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, autism, severe anxiety and cerebral palsy.
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