Evansville Mask Mandate Now in Effect

Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke's newest executive order calls for mandatory masks throughout the City of Evansville, effective Wednesday, July 15.

The stroke of midnight--and a minute after.

That's when the mayor's executive order mandating mask wearing in evansville comes into effect.

Everyone over the age of six-- will have to cover up.

With some exceptions--19 in all.

Mainly common sense kind of exemptions.

If someone has a medical condition, they are exempt.

If you're traveling in your car, you are exempt.

But evansville's mask mandate wasn't the only time the topic of face coverings came up today.

City commissioners also took up the discussion.

"but in the end, it's up to the individual citizen to determine whether or not we're going to beat this thing.

There's not enough government in the world.

There's not enough taxes we can pay to the government to make all of us do something.

It was that mentality that led county commissioners to vote in favor of a recommendation- -not a requirement--for vanderburgh county.

Urging people to wear their face masks.

Some of those living in the county who spoke at the meeting--did so in opposition and for a variety of reasons.

Like property owner randy kemp--who shared from a letter he says one of his tenants--a nurse wrote.

"using equipment without proper knowledge or training is a recipe for disaster.

In this case, increased exposure."

The centers for disease control has issued guidelines for proper mask wearing-- including taking it off by the ear loops to prevent contamination near the nose and mouth.

But for those who raised concerns over issues of freedom and constitutionality -- at least as far as the evansville order goes--city legal counsel marco delucio shared th at's something they took into account.

"with respect to questions about the constitutionality of this, we looked into both the state statutes and the local ordinances.

We certainly believe that the mayor has the authority to issue an order such as this as an attempt to protect the public health.

As the mayor said, this is an attempt to protect public health and nothing more."

The order will last for the next seven days-- unless it's extended.

Eh 44news not everyone is embracing the mayor's executive order - or a county resolution on face masks.... in fact - today protesters are planing to gather in front of the civic center at 5:00pm - to voice their concerns.... the organizer of?mask-less protest spoke with 44news tuesday about today's event.... "we want people to wear masks, we want people to social distance, we want people to be careful of their surroundings and stop spreading this disease, but at the same time, this protest is supposed to show that the government is not in control of us, and this executive order is unconstitutional in every way."

Mayor winnecke says - he does not think a mask ordinance infringes upon individual liberties - calling it a simple attempt to protect pubic health.... meanwhile - the evansville city council is considering its own version of a mandate - that includes fines for violators....