Local leaders discuss rationale behind mandatory masks

Dr. Adler is asking people not to travel to states experiencing a COVID-19 crisis.

And local leaders explained their rationale behind mandatory masks

Many are wondering if lafayette and tippecanoe county will follow.

Both mayors and county commissioner tracy brown address masks at today's community covid-19 update.

West lafayette mayor john dennis issued the mandate on monday.

It requires people to wear masks in all public businesses and on public transportation.

Commissioner brown and lafayette mayor tony roswarski both emphasized that they support wearing masks.

However, there are some issues they have with mandating masks.

Personally, it is an issue of enforcement.

Who do we have enforce that effort?

Is that going to fall on the shoulders of law enforcement?

Or our health department, which are already taxed beyond belief with just their normal day to day calls?"

"i would much prefer that citizens, if at all possible, until it's not possible, be allowed to make their own decisions and i would like businesses to make their own decisions" mayor dennis says people in west lafayette were asking him for a mask mandate.

And with thousands of purdue students coming back in a few weeks, he wants consistency between the university and the city.

"one thing no one wants to see, is us going back to a locked down community where businesses are shut and our economy tanks.

We could not survive another shutdown.

So i feel by making this small request, actually a small mandate, of asking that my community wears masks, is a very small sacrifice to make for the greater good of not just west lafayette, but this community" a representative from purdue voiced support for west lafayette's mask mandate.

Purdue is requiring all students wear masks in buildings and when social distancing isn't possible.

Governor eric holcomb announced today that the state of