Indiana will remain in Stage 4.5 of Governor Holcomb’s Back on Track plan for another month. Holcomb announced Wednesday that he plans to update his executive order to extend Stage 4.5 through August 27.
“What I’m reminded of, on a daily basis, is this virus will take what we give it, and so it’s incumbent upon us to be on our best behavior and practicing physical distancing and good hygiene and masking up when you can’t put that distance between you,” Holcomb said during Wednesday’s press conference.
The governor cited upticks in COVID-19 positivity rates in different parts of the state. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box noted that the current rolling seven-day average is 6.8 percent, up from 4.5 percent in mid-June. Hospitalization numbers are also up, compared to a month ago. Box said a map of seven-day positivity rates by county will be added to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard later this week.
In Stage 4.5, restaurant dining rooms may only operate at 75 percent capacity, while bars and nightclubs are at 50 percent. Social gatherings are limited to 250 people, but festivals and other special events may have more, if they have an event plan approved by the local health department.
Governor Holcomb said gatherings that don’t follow health officials’ guidelines can lead to a rapid change in community spread. “We know where that leads to. We’ve seen the movie,” Holcomb said. “And that’s where by the time you get to hospitalization rates going like this, it’s too late, or by the time you get to the death rates spiking up, it’s too late. The community spread’s already there. Then, you’ve got to ratchet down. So what we’re trying to do is keep this at a management level and smartly, safely reopen.”
Holcomb said he’ll also extend the eviction moratorium and foreclosure filing prohibition through August 14, bringing those in line with the moratorium on utility shutoffs.
