The city of Evansville will drop its mask mandate next week.
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke told reporters at the Civic Center about a third of local residents have received at least one COVID vaccination, 90 percent of nursing home residents have been vaccinated, and hospitalizations are down.
So on Tuesday, he said the city will follow Governor Holcomb’s plan to relax COVID guidelines…
"There will be a mask advisory and not a mandate beginning April 6th with the exception of public buildings. City-owned facilities, including the Civic Center, will continue to have a mask mandate."
Winnecke says at this point, the city shouldn’t be mandating masks at businesses…
"Private business and other institutions may require masks or they may not. It will be their decision."
Deaconess Hospital’s Dr. Gina Huhnke says experts will keep a close eye on the data…
"If we see an increase in the numbers we may advise that masks are re-implemented."
Joe Gries of the Vanderburgh County Health Department urged businesses to follow protocols…
"How best they can protect their staff, their employees, how best they can protect their customers, their clients, their patrons. I think every business is going to have to look at that individually. We're here to help at the health department."
And Mayor Winnecke had one “huge ask”…
"Please be respectful of other people's decisions relative to masks. Respect that other people may not agree with what you believe"
Masks will still be required on METS buses until at least May 11th.