INDIANAPOLIS — Governor Eric J. Holcomb will sign an executive order requiring Hoosiers to wear face coverings in most public settings, beginning Monday.

“As we continue to monitor the data, we’ve seen a concerning change in some of our key health indicators,” Holcomb said. “Hoosiers have worked hard to help reopen our state, and we want to remain open. By masking up, we can and will save lives and slow the spread of COVID-19.”

A mask or other face covering may be factory-made, sewn by hand, or improvised from household items such as scarfs, bandanas and T-shirts. The mouth and nose should be covered.

Monday was chosen as the start date to give people time to prepare for it.

The executive order will require face coverings for anyone 8 or older in the following places:

• public indoor spaces and commercial entities;
• while using public transportation or other vehicle services such as a taxi or ride share; and
• outdoor public spaces when it’s not possible to socially distance from people not in the same household.

Additionally, face coverings will be required in schools for students in the third grade and above, faculty, staff, volunteers and anyone else in schools. Mask are also required for co-curricular and extra-curricular activities with exceptions for strenuous physical activity. Children ages 2 to 7 are also strongly encouraged to wear a face covering.

Brown County Schools Superintendent Laura Hammack planned to go live on her Facebook page at 5:30 p.m. Thursday to discuss the order’s effect on local back-to-school plans.

The order will have exceptions for medical purposes, disabilities, exercising, and eating and drinking.

The state will approach enforcement of the face covering requirement with an emphasis on education. The executive order states a penalty can be levied under the authority of state law.

Local governments may impose more restrictive guidelines.

Once signed, the executive order can be found at in.gov/gov/2384.htm. (It was not posted yet as of 5 p.m. July 22.)

“Face coverings can and will help us blunt this increase,” Holcomb said. “It has in other states and in other countries around the world.”

Holcomb said that this is a time-sensitive situation now, with schools returning to in-person instruction next month. In order to avoid going back to a previous stage of the reopening plan, and to attempt to avoid prolonged school closures which can put working parents in a bind, he and several state doctors during today’s press conference urged all Hoosiers to abide by the new rules.

“The best practices are best for all,” Holcomb said.

This story will be updated with local comments and implications.