An individual may face up to six months in prison for not wearing a mask in Indiana.

Indiana’s governor dropped a planned criminal penalty from the statewide face mask mandate, and violation of law will not lead to 6 months in jail.

Governor of Indiana, Eric.J.Holcomb, said that not complying with the mask order would carry a fine up to $1,000 and 180 days in jail in Indiana. The offense of not wearing a mask was planned to be classified as a Class B misdemeanor through Indiana's mask mandate; however, the penalty was later dropped from the order. Several area law enforcement agencies said they would not be enforcing it. Washington and Loogootee police departments said that any individual who refuses to wear a mask does not constitute a crime.

The planned criminal penalty was dropped from the order that Holcomb signed on July 24, 2020, after criticisms from some law enforcement officials and conservative legislators. Alternatively, he placed the responsibility of the compliance enforcement on state and local health departments through education about the importance of wearing face coverings and dispelling myths. Holcomb has made a face mask a requirement for people age eight and above in public places where social distancing cannot be maintained. There would be few exemptions for medical purposes, exercises, disabilities, eating, and drinking. The state law can levy a penalty under this executive order, and local governments may impose more restrictive guidelines.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.

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