no mask mandate in Lafayette

no mask mandate in Lafayette

News 15 at six... 3 small in size, but big in controversy..face masks have become one of the most hotly debated issues in america, and acadiana is no exception.as our region leads the resurgence of coronavirus cases in louisiana many people are urging the lafayette government and even the governor of the state to enforce a mask mandate to stop the spread.news 1's cassie schirm takes a look at why lafayette wo't have a mask madate and why this issue is so divisive.

Tha's right masks are a hot topic right now especially here in lafayette as a online petition circles the area with thousands of people wanting lafayette to have a mandate requiring everyone to wear masks in business like other parishes in the state but the mask mandate has become political and i was told it wo't be happen wing here in lafayette.

"mask in the public is going to drive down our level of transmission unless the great majority of people 8090% of people in the community wear masks."time and time again acadiana covid task force leader, dr. tina stefanski and health officials here in louisiana say masks are needed to stop the spread.dr tina stefanski, louisiana health department"we will never get to decreased transmission unless again we have some great compliance.

For you know for people to say well 'm not going to wear a mask but you can it does't help our community."governor john bell edwards says he wo't do a state wide mask mandate because h's following the white house coronavirus task force guidance where local government has a say.governor john bel edwards"that guidance is directed regarding masks to local government not state government in those areas where you have an increase in cases in positivity which is why i support the masks mandates that have been put into place."so far new orleans, jefferson parish, kenner, east baton rouge parish and shreveport have issued a mask mandate in businesses.adrian perkins, shreveport mayor"we have more hospitalizations right now at the highest points then at the highest point before.

So for public health reasons and to continue to save lives save our livelihoods in the long term i made the decision.

" shreveport mayor adrian perkins says the response has been mainly positive.

"obviously you know i have some citizens that are upset and saying its uncomfortable, i's infringing on the rights but ultimately everybod's happy i made the decision and we know w're gonna be safer as a community.""the constitution is being shredded before our very eyes.

Chainsaw noise "state representative danny mccormick is one of the people who opp oses the mandate.state representative danny mccormick "people who do't wear a mask will soon be painted as the enemy just as they did the jews in nazi germany now is the time to push back before i's too late."but according to constitutional lawyers out of baton rouge enforcing wearing a mask does't infringe your rights."you have to balance three things whether the state has a compelling interest whether the law is nearly tailored and third whether i's the least restrictive thing they can do and in this case with regards to a mask and the requirement to wear it i think they meet all three of those requirements."even with the rise in cases and repeated message from local health officials mayor president josh guillory says he will not enforce a mask mandate here in lafayettemayor president josh guillory"the enforceability of such mandate is not practical.

That is the bottom line.

You heard the doctor and he heard the medical task force and i do believe do you believe in the people" dr. stefanski said she was for a mask mandate but i's not her job to enforce one.

In lafayette 'm cassie schirm news 15.

Thanks cassie, i's a conversation that is all over social media.

In a poll we put out on facebook last week, we asked our viewers do you wear masks in public....out of nearly 400 people 40% say