Today is a milestone in Indiana’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s the day the state’s nearly 9-month-old mask mandate expires, and it’s also the day many of the other fetters on gatherings come off as well.
This day comes with a lot of mixed messages, and it’s not easy to sort them out. On the one hand, new infections and deaths from the novel coronavirus continue to be relatively low, especially when compared to the surge we experienced during the winter. On the other hand, it’s still possible to get sick and die from this stubborn virus. Suddenly, the one thing that almost everyone agrees keeps us safe – keeping your nose and mouth covered – is being de-emphasized.
Even Gov. Eric Holcomb seemed torn when he announced two weeks ago that he was ending the mask mandate that’s been in place since last July.
“When I visit my favorite restaurants or conduct a public event, I will continue to appropriately wear a mask,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Then, last week, as they faced three of the most knowledgeable local public health experts on the pandemic – each of whom urged continued caution — the Hancock County Commissioners declined to do much more than say enough is enough when it came to the restrictions.
So, what is a responsible person to do?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that, even with the three vaccine options continuing to ramp up, it’s still important to take the precautions we’ve been taking all along – mask mandate or no mask mandate.
That means continuing to wear face coverings; maintaining 6 feet of space; avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated places; and frequently washing your hands. The CDC recommends these precautions even if you’ve been fully vaccinated, because scientists are still studying how the vaccines affect the spread of COVID-19. (The CDC also says that fully vaccinated people can begin gathering with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart. That is welcome news.)
We know this strategy works. For Exhibit A, you need look no further than our county schools, where distancing, mask-wearing and hygiene protocols have largely kept big outbreaks at bay. Significantly, schools will continue to follow those rules.
We are oh-so-close to finally managing the pandemic. But as troubling pockets of infections in Michigan and elsewhere illustrate, we’re not finished yet.
That means continuing to be prudent, just as we’ve been doing for a year now.
“We’ve come so far,” Dr. Gary Sharp, the county’s public health officer, told the county commissioners last week. “It doesn’t really make a lot of sense to walk away from it at this point.”
