WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coVID-19 outbreak to be a global pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared COVID-19 to be a national emergency; and

WHEREAS, on December 29, 2021, Executive Order 21-33 declaring a public health emergency for the State of Indiana was renewed for the twenty-second time; and

WHEREAS, the high transmissibility of the Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19 have caused a resurgence of new positive cases and therefore the need for stronger mitigation efforts; and

WHEREAS, being vaccinated and boosted continues to be the easiest and most effective way to protect individuals from hospitalization and death from COVID-19 and that all employees and residents are again encouraged to become vaccinated and boosted; and

WHEREAS, in light of the foregoing information and in an effort to prioritize the health and well-being of all those entering the City of Hammond, Mayor Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. finds it necessary and proper to implement updated COVID-19 safety protocols; and

NOW THEREFORE, by Executive Order, Mayor Thomas M. McDermot, Jr. hereby issues the following Executive Order related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic:

1. Face Coverings. Any individual, regardless of vaccination status, who is age two or older shall be required to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth when indoors in any public place within the City of Hammond. A public place includes but is not limited to City Hall, Hammond Civic Center, Police Department, Fire Department, Hammond Sportsplex, Jean Shepard Community Center, the Hammond Marina, Lost Marsh Golf Course, Pulaski Senior Center, and other offices or facilities throughout the city.
   
   1. Those actively participating in a sporting event or actively eating or drinking may remove their face covering, after which it must immediately be put back on.
   2. Provision 1 of this Order does not apply to private offices and businesses; however, those entities are encouraged to institute CDC recommended social distancing and masking requirements as they see fit to allow their business to operate but to also be mindful of the need to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
2. Conflicting Orders. Any matter in this Executive Order that conflicts with a prior Mayoral Executive Order is hereby superseded by this Order and by the Governor's current and future Executive Orders, except those matters in a Mayoral Executive Order that is more restrictive.
3. Savings Clause. If any provision of this Order or its application to any individual or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Order, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. This Order is declared to be severable.

This Order is in effect immediately upon my signature and shall remain in effect until further notice or if none then until March 1, 2022.