St. Joseph County Council willing to work with health department on new mask mandate if necessary

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind.--- Members of the St. Joseph County Health Department say they'd be willing to work with the county health department on a new mask mandate if the department felt one was necessary. The health department would need the approval of the County Council before issuing a new mandate due to Indiana Senate Bill 5.

"I rely on the public health department, our county health department to lead the way on this issue," said Diana Hess, President Pro-Tempore, of the St. Joseph County Council. "They haven’t indicated to us that they have planned on remasking or passing any mitigative measures yet."

Hess says she and most of her colleagues would lean on the guidance of the CDC and health department if the recommendation is made to reissue a mask mandate.

"I would say that a majority of the county council would probably, not necessarily defer, but take into regard what the health department says about the issue," said Hess.

The St. Joseph County Council does have a history of working with the health department on these matters. In May, the council voted to override a decision made by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners to end the county's mask mandate early.