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Elkhart County Health Department
Public Health Order No. 01-2020
Face Covering Mandate
Every individual must properly wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when
they are at:
- an indoor area open to the public, including public transportation;
- an outdoor public area where a distance of 6 feet from individuals outside of their
household cannot be maintained; or - a private indoor or outdoor area where a distance of 6 feet from individuals outside of
their household cannot be maintained.
An adult should supervise use of face coverings by children aged 3 to 12 to avoid misuse. A
properly worn face covering is one that fully covers the individual’s mouth and nose/ fits snugly
against the sides of the face with no gaps/ is secured (i.e. straps, ear loops) to prevent slipping,
and allows for breathing with no restriction. All face coverings, which are not disposed of after
each use, should be washed each day it is used and made completely dry before the next use.
B. Exceptions to the Face Covering Mandate
The EIkhart County Health Department recognizes that the following individuals are not
required to wear a face covering as a result of this Order No. 01-2020: - any child aged two years or less (a face covering may cause such a child to suffocate);
- any individual who has a physical disability that prevents easily wearing or removing a
face covering; - any individual who is deaf and needs to remove the face covering to use facial and mouth
movements as a part of their communication; - any individual who has been advised by medical professional that wearing a face covering
may pose a risk to the person wearing the face covering for health related reasons; - any individual who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated/ or otherwise
unable to remove the face covering without assistance; - any individual who is directed to remove a face covering by a law enforcement officer;
- any employee engaged in a work related activity where a face covering would serve to
present or exacerbate a hazard as recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration; - any individual whose religious beliefs prevents them from wearing a face covering;
- any restaurant or bar customer while they are dining; and
- any individual who (1) is not in an area open to the public and (2) can maintain at least 6
feet from all other individuals not residing in his or her household.
C. Business and Employer Requirements
Every business and employer in EIkhart County must take the following steps to ensure
that all employees and visitors of the entity comply with this Order: - All employers in Elkhart County must amend their COVID-19 continued operations plan,
fast established per the mandate included in Section 4 of Executive Order 20-26 and still
required by Section 5.b of Executive Order 20-32, to require all employees and visitors to
wear face coverings in accordance with this Order. - All businesses must post the English and Spanish version of the Order No. 01-2020 sign (PDF
copy will be available at http://www.elkhartcountyhealth.org/) at each available entrance to
their building. - All business must continue to follow the Executive Order of the Governor and any other
Orders issued by state or local officials. This includes, but is not restricted to, social
distancing (at least six feet of separation) and sanitation requirements.
D. Intent and Use of this Order
The intent of this Order is to mandate that all people in Elkhart County, whether engaged
in work activities, social activities, or everyday activities, wear a face covering, as outlined herein,
to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This Order is necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19
throughout Elkhart County and protect public health. When applying this Order, it is important
to remember the following: - Nothing in this Order reduces or eliminates the requirements imposed by the Executive
Orders of Governor Holcomb, or imposed by any directive or order from the local health
officer. Governor/ or other regulatory local, state, or federal agency. - Actions that contradict this Order do not create grounds for residents or law enforcement
to stop, detain, issue a citation/ arrest, intimidate, or harass individuals that do not comply
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with this Order. This Order should be used to educate/ encourage, ‘and persuade
individuals to wear face coverings. - Use of a face covering does not replace the need to take the additional necessary protective
measures set forth in Section E below.
E. Additional Necessary Protective Measures
Use of a face covering as mandated by this Order does not replace the need for all Elkhart
County employers/ residents/ and visitors to take additional necessary protective measures to
protect against the spread of COVID-19. To keep Elkhart County working, activities open, and
ourselves healthy, everyone should maintain the following basic protective measures: - Wash your hands frequently during the day for 20 seconds with soap and water. If this is
not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. - Maintain a minimum of 6 feet of distance between yourself and individuals outside of
your household. - Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Stay home and isolate yourself from other members of your household if you are sick.
- Avoid being around sick people.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces often.
- Sneeze and cough in the inside of your elbow or in a tissue.
F. Scope and Duration
This Order goes into effect at 12:01 AM on June 30, 2020. This Order will remain in effect
until rescinded by the Elkhart County Local Health Officer. Prior to rescinding this Order, the
Health Officer intends to examine the number and percentage of positive cases in Elkhart County
in comparison to the State of Indiana, the hospitalization census for EIkhart County, and the
availability of ICU beds m Elkhart County. For the duration of this Order, this Order supersedes
the Guidance on Wearing Face Coverings issued by the Elkhart County Health Department on
June 12, 2020. Compliance with this Order is not required to the extent necessary to comply with
any federal/ state, or local laws, rules, and regulations.
Signed and issued June 29, 2020, in Elkhart County, Indiana.
Elkhart County
Local Health Officer