For Immediate Release:
December 21, 2021
We are currently seeing a rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in LaPorte County. We are up to 18,740
public cases and 283 deaths. LaPorte County has logged 500 new cases of COVID-19 per week this month.
At this time, Dr. Deausy is asking the LaPorte County community to take a proactive approach and strongly
recommends that masks be worn indoors in public places. Dr. Deausy’s medical opinion follows Center for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance recommending the use of face masks while indoors near others outside of
your family unit, regardless of vaccination status, in areas of high transmission, which now include LaPorte County
which is in the RED Covid category.
Unvaccinated individuals account for an overwhelming percentage of recent hospitalizations and many of the
deaths associated with COVID-19 infection. Masking is necessary to slow the spread of the virus to prevent
additional surges in new Covid cases, which could result in greater numbers of COVID-19 related illnesses,
hospitalizations, and deaths. The surges also greatly stress our healthcare systems and healthcare providers.
It is LaPorte County Health Department’s shared goal to keep people healthy, businesses open and children in
schools so we can continue to recover from this health crisis.
Healthcare facilities, businesses and other organizations may require masks to ensure the safety of their employees
and customers based on individual circumstances.
Recommendations for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals include:
• All those who are medically able to do so should wear a face mask in public indoor settings when near
others, regardless of vaccination status
• The use of face masks is recommended for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools, regardless of
vaccination status
• Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
• Everyone with a known contact to someone with confirmed COVID-19 disease should get tested 3-5 days
following exposure
• Isolate if you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the prior 10 days or are experiencing COVID-19
symptoms
• Get vaccinated and boosted
• Wash your hands often and use sanitizer