Starke and Pulaski counties’ remaining mask requirements are being lifted.
In Starke County, Health Nurse Frank Lynch says the Health Department is rescinding its mask mandate. But he adds, “The decision is not being based on current rates of vaccination or positive case counts, but on the passage of recent legislation.”
A new state law prohibits local health departments from issuing orders that are more restrictive than those from the governor, unless they get the approval from the county’s elected officials. The bill was vetoed by Governor Holcomb, but that was overridden by the General Assembly last week.
But residents still have to follow the governor’s order – which requires masks to be worn in schools, COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites, and state government buildings until the end of the month – as well as any orders put in place by the county commissioners.
Meanwhile, the Pulaski County Commissioners Monday rescinded several of the COVID-19 rules for county government buildings, including the requirement to wear a face covering and practice social distancing. Department heads will no longer have to screen employees for symptoms and keep a daily log, and they may remove the sneeze guards installed in their offices.
The policy for Pulaski County employees to return to work after they’ve tested positive will remain tied to CDC guidelines. The commissioners immediately removed their masks when the motion was approved.
Pulaski County Incident Management Team Liaison Nathan Origer reported that OptumServe’s COVID-19 testing site will now be located at the Winamac Fire Station. “Appointments can be scheduled online, and they will take walk-ins,” Origer explained. “They have both rapid and PCR testing. They’ll be Monday and Friday 8:00 to 8:00, and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8:00 to 6:00.”
Origer also told the commissioners that the County Health Department recently vaccinated 12 inmates and two employees during an on-site clinic at the Pulaski County Justice Center.
