By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

INDIANAPOLIS — Beginning Monday, July 27, Hoosiers will be required to wear masks.

The mask mandate was announced by Gov. Eric Holcomb in a press conference on Wednesday, July 22.

Determining factors for the mask mandate include getting children back to school and keeping Indiana businesses open and operating; an increase in COVID-19 positivity rate; an increase in the number of Hoosiers hospitalized for COVID-19; additional Indiana counties seeing more cases; and an increase in cases and positivity rates in neighboring states.

The mandate applies to anyone eight years or older in indoor public spaces, commercial entities or transportation services, or in outside public spaces where social distancing isn’t possible. Mask use in schools is also required for grades 3 and up, as well as faculty, staff, volunteers and any other adults in the school buildings. Masks are also required for co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, with exceptions for strenuous physical activity.

Exceptions will be made for medical purposes, strenuous physical activity, eating and drinking. Masks are strongly recommended for ages 2 to 7.

All states surrounding Indiana, including Michigan, Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio have mask mandates.

The above chart was provided by the Indiana Department of Health.