Governor Holcomb says he’s happy to leave it up to individual counties to decide on mask mandates. During a press conference Wednesday, Holcomb said the state will continue to make sure local leaders have the information they need to make their own decisions, along with the resources to carry them out.
“We heard loud and clear over this last year about the need for the local control,” Holcomb said. “The big number-one difference is we know what works. We know what works, and that’s the vaccine.”
While some of those who’ve gotten the vaccine have gotten COVID-19 anyway, State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box says the vast majority of those who are hospitalized with the disease are unvaccinated. “Less than three percent of our hospital admissions are breakthrough cases,” she said. “Ninety-seven, 98 percent of those cases in our hospitals and in our ICUs are people that have not been vaccinated, and that’s the answer.”
The governor once again urged Hoosiers to get the shot. “It’s not just what we can do. It’s what you can do to solve the problem,” Holcomb told Hoosiers. “We need you to do the right thing, and that’s get vaccinated. And that will keep our kids in school. That will keep our businesses open.”
Dr. Box noted that by the time someone is hospitalized with COVID, it’s too late for the vaccine to help them.
