EXECUTIVE ORDER: 20-42

FOR: THIRD CONTINUATION OF STAGE 4.5 OF INDIANA'S BACK ON TRACK

FIRST EXTENSION OF FACE COVERING REQUIREMENT

TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS MAY COME, GREETINGS:

WHEREAS, on March 6, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-02 [20200311-IR-GOV200091EOA] which declared a public health emergency exists throughout the State of Indiana as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States and a confirmed report of the disease in our State and this initial declaration has been extended by me in Executive Orders 20-17 [20200422-IR-GOV200236EOA], 20-25 [20200513-IR-GOV200250EOA], 20-30 [20200701-IR-GOV200349EOA], 20-34 [20200812-IR-GOV200412EOA], 20-38 [20200812-IR-GOV200416EOA] & 20-41 [20200902-IR-GOV200456EOA];

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic and, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a national emergency with respect to this dangerous virus;

WHEREAS, as of the date of this Executive Order, the virus has now spread to every county in our State, with over 89,000 confirmed cases and over 3,000 deaths;

WHEREAS, as Governor, under Indiana's Emergency Management and Disaster Law, Ind. Code ch. 10-14-3 ("Emergency Disaster Law"), I have authority to take actions necessary to prepare for, respond to and address a public health disaster emergency including the following:

WHEREAS, to reduce and slow the spread of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) have recommended implementation of mitigation strategies to contain this virus;

WHEREAS, in order to take all necessary steps to increase containment of this virus, I have issued various Executive Orders including a stay-at-home order, closure of state government buildings and restrictions on in-person dining at restaurants;

WHEREAS, throughout many areas across the United States including Indiana, there are signs of increased coronavirus spread and evidence of resurgence;

WHEREAS, during the past 30 days, the rate of COVID-19 positivity has held steady, however it remains almost double the state's low of 3.6% in June. Hospitalization rates have also held steady during that same time period, but they too remain more than 30 percent higher than the state's low of 600 in June. The collective efforts the state has undertaken during the past 30 days have stymied the rapid spread we faced as more activities resumed, and we must continue these efforts if we wish to return to the low the state realized in June; and

WHEREAS, based upon the above, implementation of a neutral and generally applicable face covering requirement is a rational and reasonable countermeasure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Indiana.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Eric J. Holcomb, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor by the Indiana Constitution and the laws of the State of Indiana, do hereby order:

IT IS SO ORDERED.