By John Estridge
The Great Franklin County Mask Debate may be very short-lived.
Gov. Eric Holcomb issued an executive order Wednesday afternoon, July 22, mandating masks statewide. It goes into effect, Monday, July 27.
Failure to wear a mask in the mandatory areas could result in a criminal charge, as a class B misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of up to 180 days in jail. Also, a fine up to $1,000 can be levied.
An article on the Fox 59 website dated July 22, stated Holcomb said there will not be any mask police running around. Apparently, this is going to be a self-regulated executive order.
Tuesday night, July 21, Franklin County’s Health Board members unanimously passed a motion making masks in FC mandatory. FC Commissioners planned to discuss the situation at their next meeting Tuesday morning, July 28.
However, the executive order from the governor may have circumvented that discussion.
As of Tuesday, July 21, 20 states had mandatory mask rules, according to an article dated July 21 by businessinsider.com. Forty-seven of the 50 states have some form of a mandatory mask order with the majority being much more lenient than the other states where it is mandated for almost everyone, such as Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky.
Holcomb, in his press release, cited new statistics of the COVID-19 cases seeming to accelerate in the past couple of weeks. He also noted some counties with relatively low activities are now seeing spikes.
Franklin County Health Nurse Angie Ruther announced at Tuesday night’s health board meeting, the positive cases in FC increased by 27 cases since July 1, and 18 cases in the last eight days counting to July 21. This was the largest increase in the county since April, she said.
Of those new cases, two are in critical condition while a third is in the hospital. One of the people testing positive is a 5-year-old child.
In all, FC has 153 cases through July 21, and eight deaths due to the virus.
According to the Fox 59 article, the mandate is in effect for all people more than 8 years old in indoor public spaces, commercial entities, transportation services and outdoor areas where social distancing is not possible.
In schools, any students in third grade on, will be required to wear masks, as will teachers, administrators and staff members. Masks will be required for co-curricular and extra-curricular activities as well as the bus.
There are exemptions and these include: medical purposes, strenuous physical activity and eating and drinking.
In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine also issued a statewide mask mandate, which goes into effect 6 p.m., Thursday, July 23.
Ohio’s rules vary some from Indiana’s rules. Kids up to age 10 do not have to wear a mask. Other exemptions include: those involved in public safety and those who are officiants at religious services.
Not wearing a mask where mandated in Ohio is a second-degree misdemeanor with up to 90 days in jail and up to $750 in fines.
According to an article in the July 22 Cincinnati Enquirer, few local officials are enforcing the mask requirements.