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City of West Lafayette to lift mask mandate in government buildings

West Lafayette is expected to lift the mask mandate in government buildings (WBAA News/Ben Thorp)
West Lafayette is expected to lift the mask mandate in government buildings (WBAA News/Ben Thorp)

The City of West Lafayette is expected to lift its mask mandate in November.

The city briefly lifted its mandate in May of this year, following an announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that vaccinated individuals no longer needed to wear masks. The city reversed course and reinstated a mandate in July as COVID-19 cases surged.

West Lafayette Mayor John Denis said he understands that there is always a chance that COVID could surge again in the future.

“But as it stands right now it’s time to give the community some relief, it’s time to give my staff some relief, and it’s time to get closer and closer to the good old days of trying to look people in the eye and being able to read lips when necessary,” he said.

Dennis said the decision was made based on the state’s COVID dashboard and consultation with the local health department.

“We’ve been at the tip of the spear when it comes to public health in this community,” Dennis said. “I feel that right now is that time when we are going to empower the citizens, the individual citizens, to make their decisions about their own personal health.”

According to Dennis, between 60 and 70% of city staff are fully vaccinated.

Staff and visitors will no longer be required to mask in city buildings and meetings will go back to being held in person.

The new policy takes effect Nov. 1.