The future of West Lafayette’s mask mandate is in limbo following Governor Eric Holcomb’s announcement on Tuesday that Indiana will end its mask mandate on April 6th.
The city enacted a local mask ordinance last year.
The mask ordinance for West Lafayette includes fines of up to $250 and officials say it’s been helpful in enforcing mask requirements.
West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis said the governor’s plan to lift the statewide mandate changes things.
“We don’t want to be contradicting the Governor,” he said. “I think his logic and his guidance are sound.”
Dennis said next week he expects to speak with enforcement personnel and the city’s legal team about how to proceed.
“Personally speaking I think it would not be unrealistic for us to go ahead and remove the mask mandate,” he said.
Earlier this month, officials with the Centers for Disease Control urged people to “double down” on masking and social distancing in response to Texas and Mississippi lifting their mask mandates.