JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — Some consider it a pandemic milestone. For Kentucky's neighbors to the north, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb's mask mandate is over Tuesday. It may cause some confusion. When in Indiana now, people do not have to mask up while outdoors, or inside places that do not have a mask requirement. That's not the case in Kentucky. Across the state line, Kentucky does still require those who enter to wear masks. Businesses and their customers have mixed feelings about it. 


What You Need To Know

  • Indiana's statewide mask mandate is over Tuesday

  • Businesses there can still make their own mask rules

  • Kentucky's mask mandate stands, so anyone entering is required to mask up, under the governor's order

  • Beshear said he would ask Indiana's governor to reconsider if he got the chance

Thomas Harris is a Jeffersonville restaurant owner who feels "good and bad about it at the same time," he tells Spectrum News 1. Harris opened "That's My Dog" during the pandemic and has required his staff to wear masks all this time. That won't change.

"I know our employees will still continue to wear the masks, but I'm not gonna make customers wear the masks at this time," Harris has decided. "If you've been vaccinated, you know, why am I making you wear the mask?" he offered.

Other Indiana residents had some worry to express ahead of Tuesday's mask lift.

There's regular foot traffic across the Big Four Bridge to and from Kentucky, from Indiana.

"I think there's too many people that are not vaccinated, and we're gonna be too much at risk," said Kelly Kight.

Another woman said she's fine with the governor's mandate expiring but will personally still wear a mask in places like grocery stores.

"I think that it's up to the, you know, individual business whether or not they require masks inside," said Shelby Brown.

One notable Kentuckian not okay with the change is Gov. Andy Beshear. During a COVID-19 briefing last week, he said he would personally ask Holcomb to reconsider if he gets the chance.

"So my hope is he hears the president's call and reconsiders. He's a reasonable person. We've had good conversations," Beshear told reporters last week.