St. Joseph County Health Officer rescinds health order including mask order

After the Centers for Disease Control modified its mask recommendations for fully vaccinated people, St. Joseph County Health Officer Robert Einterz rescinded the county health order requiring face coverings in certain circumstances. The county council's mask order remains in effect.

“There’s no on your honor. I’ve gotta see a vaccination record and I’ve gotta see a picture ID in order to come in the building," said Carol Meehan, Owner of Fiddler's Hearth.

Vaccinated only events are something Michiana residents can start to see - within the next few months as a result of this announcement.

Owners like Carol Meehan at Fiddler’s Hearth, are just one of the few looking to return to business without masks after learning about the ease of restrictions, but even with requirements like vaccination cards to attend these events - some here in Michiana aren’t ready to ditch their masks.

“I will not personally be taking off my mask," said Joshua Cowen, South Bend Resident. 

While others feel it’s been a long time coming. 

“I’m ready to take off my mask. Personally, I don’t like to wear a mask it’s not comfortable," Jahong Liu, South Bend Resident.  

Individual businesses can still implement mask requirements if they choose too and at Fiddler's Hearth they'll be lifted during special events like tastings and live music shows, but you can still expect to see them during normal business hours. 

“When we’re open to the general public until there’s herd immunity or everybody gets vaccinated or whatever I think it’s gonna be business as usual except for those special events," said Meehan. 

Einterz also said he is going to encourage the county council to rescind its related ordinance.

The CDC changed its recommendations Thursday saying fully vaccinated people can go without a mask or physically distancing in enclosed spaces as long as it doesn't contradict other rules or regulations.

People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or two weeks after their single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

If you are not fully vaccinated or acquired immunity, you should continue to use face coverings when 6-feet of distance cannot be maintained in an enclosed space.