Purdue announces return of mask mandate for indoor spaces to protect against COVID

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.— Purdue University announced Friday the return of a mask mandate starting Aug. 2 for all indoor spaces for students, employees and visitors, regardless of vaccination status. 

“We have a shared duty, part of the Protect Purdue Pledge, not only to preserve a manageable level of infection on campus so that we don’t have to suspend operations and interrupt our students’ education, but also to protect our surrounding community by doing everything we can to lessen the stress on local health care infrastructure, especially hospital capacity,” Dr. Esteban Ramirez, chief medical officer of the Protect Purdue Health Center, said in the release.

As of July 27, the CDC issued a recommendation that everyone, including fully vaccinated people, wear masks in indoor public settings in areas of "substantial or high transmission" risk, according to the Purdue release.

More:Here's what to do if you're exposed to COVID-19 in Indiana, even if you're vaccinated

Earlier Friday, West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis announced a mask mandate for employees and visitors in city buildings, effective immediately. Dennis cited an advisory from the Tippecanoe County Health Department that urged local school boards implement a mask requirement in public school buildings.

Dr. Jeremy Adler, heath official for the TCHD, responded to this week's updated recommendations from the CDC that even vaccinated individuals should wear a mask to reduce the spread of COVID-19, especially the more-infections Delta variant.

Margaret Troup is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mtroup@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretTroup2