Governor Holcomb announced that due to increasing cases and growing positivity numbers, Indiana will be moving back from Stage 5 starting November 15th. Nine counties are currently in red.
The Governor and Dr. Box presented the following information regarding what is coming:
- Face coverings are still a mandate
- Businesses will remain open, but operators and patrons must meet requirements when a county is in orange or red status.
- Hospitals should implement evidence-based criteria to reprioritize non-emergent procedures and surgeries to ensure sufficient capacity for all patients.
For counties in orange:
- Social gatherings of any kind, inside or outside, are limited to 50 people
- Special, season or commercial events planned for more than 50 people require approval of a safety plan by local health officials
- Attendance at winter indoor k-12 extracurricular and co-curricular events is limited to 25 percent capacity.
- Capacity in common areas and break rooms should be reduced and users should be socially distanced.
- Community rec sports leagues and tournaments may continue with attendance limited to participants, required personnel, and parents/guardians only.
For counties in red:
- Social gatherings of any kind, inside or outside, are limited to 25 people.
- Special, season or commercial events planned for more than 25 people require approval of a safety plan by local health officials. Events are not advised to be held. College and professional sports are included.
- Attendance at winter indoor K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular events, including IHSAA sports, is limited to participants, support personnel, and parents/guardians.
- Local officials may consider limiting hours for the operation of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants.
- Community recreational sports leagues and tournaments may continue with attendance limited to participants, required personnel, and parents/guardians only.
- Senior care activities are suspended
- Hospitals, long-term care facilities and other congregate settings may impose visitation limits
- Common areas and break rooms should be closed.
Q&A with Governor Holcomb
The press ask the Governor questions after his presentation. The following are some of the notes gleamed from those questions and answers:
What about churches?
Churches are exempt. Often it is the ‘after events’ where people let their guard down. Of the top 4 or 5 contract tracing events they have, there is a spike on Sundays that seem related to churches.
It was speculated that after the election, things would more likely be locked down (politics). Do you see us closing down in the coming weeks?
Governor Holcomb stated that “politics don’t enter my brain when it comes to making decisions”. We are trying to avoid shutting business down. Sometimes the safest place to be is in the classroom or at work because there is compliance.
If there wasn’t much enforcement of restrictions in the Spring, why should businesses care about following changes now?
For the most part, it is the social gatherings outside of businesses and schools that are the biggest issues. The businesses are generally in compliance. It is often what is happening outside that is originating cases.