ANOTHER VIEWPOINT: Mask order compels us to take pandemic seriously

<p>The (Munster) Times</p><p>At a time when our Region and nation are starved for a clear track for navigating a global pandemic, and the leadership to propel us along that track, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb took the pole position this past week.</p><p>Now Hoosiers should follow the governor’s commonsense mask mandate to speed away from a resurgent wave of COVID-19 infections.</p><p>Holcomb’s statewide mandate, requiring that masks be worn in public places in which social distancing opportunities are challenged, is the type of clarity we needed in a time when COVID-19 infections are growing at home and abroad.</p><p>One of the top pieces of medical advice amid this global pandemic is for people to wear masks or other face coverings to reduce the spread of a virus that is infecting and killing far too many in Northwest Indiana, the greater state and in regions throughout the United States.</p><p>Our nation’s top doctors are saying it. Lake County’s top doctor, county Health Department Director Chandana Vavilala, has said it.</p><p>And now our governor has said it.</p><p>That clarity was needed, as we witnessed this week in the social response to wording in a Lake County mask order that came ahead of the governor’s edict.</p><p>Dr. Vavilala showed strong local leadership by issuing Lake County’s mask order. Her order followed solid leadership by various Region municipalities, including Hammond, to require masks be worn in publicly owned facilities.</p><p>County attorney, Matthew Fech, said the health department director intended the order as a local mandate.</p><p>However, an attempt at soft wording in the order created confusion among some citizens, business owners and public officials alike.</p><p>Some viewed the Lake County order as a “recommendation,” even though it was clearly a public health order and contained language that businesses “must ensure” patrons comply with the order.</p><p>Some of the ambiguity came with using words like “should” rather than “shall” when it came to citizens wearing masks in public.</p><p>In the end, that was a silly quibble, as the word “should” is merely the past tense of the word “shall” in the English language.</p><p>That confusion in Lake County is a lesson in prizing clear direction over political nuance.</p><p>Nonetheless, Holcomb made a strong move to clarify the matter for everyone by issuing a statewide order this past week.</p><p>It’s true a scandal-ridden Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill challenged Holcomb’s ability, through executive order, to add criminal teeth to his mask mandate.</p><p>Though the governor had sought misdemeanor penalties for violators of the order in an early draft, the final order signed Friday took those penalties out.</p><p>Convincing people to do the right thing for the health of our families, neighbors and ourselves shouldn’t take an executive order from the governor’s office or the threat of criminal penalties.</p><p>But too many people have been flippant about the real threats presented by COVID-19.</p><p>While some citizens moving about public places have responsibly heeded the best medical advice and worn masks, others have ignored the commonsense practice, believing their personal liberty trumps overall public health.</p><p>We applaud the governor for standing up for the health of Hoosiers by pushing us all to take this pandemic seriously.</p><p>If you’re going to be out in public among people, put on a mask. It’s not hard to do. Any discomfort is a small price to pay for overall public health.</p>