Hundreds of people have signed a petition asking the Evansville City Council to approve an ordinance requiring face masks.
A pandemic response ordinance goes before the council Monday evening, and a petition drive is underway in support of it at the website change.org.
Kristen Strandberg is a music history professor at UE. She tells WNIN nearly 500 people signed the petition in its first 24 hours.
The number had risen above 500 Friday morning.
The ordinance would require everyone in the city ages 6 and above to wear a face covering to prevent the spread of COVID 19.
The measure includes numerous exceptions.
The ordinance will be heard on first reading during the council meeting Monday evening at 5:30 in Room 301 of the Civic Center.
Most ordinances require more than one meeting for a final vote but council members can vote to suspend the rules and complete the process in one meeting.