The Tippecanoe County Health Department on Wednesday “strongly” recommended that residents continue to wear masks, even as the state is expected to lift its mandate on April 6.
In its release, the health department announced that, among other changes on April 6, restaurants and bars will be able to open up to 100% capacity. Six feet of social distancing will still need to be maintained.
The health department also recommended that businesses continue to require masks to be worn by staff and customers.
COVID-19 cases in the county have been steadily increasing since March 20. On Tuesday, the county reported 54 new coronavirus cases.
Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski says he supports the governor moving the mask mandate to an advisory.
“But I also support that if people cannot socially distance I encourage them to keep wearing masks,” he said.
Purdue University will keep its mask mandate in place until at least the end of the semester. And while West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis told WBAA last week that the city would likely follow the state’s lead in removing the mask ordinance, on Wednesday the mayor said that with numbers on the rise, “our mask ordinance will be around for awhile.”