Indiana is helping to crack down on violations of COVID-19 restrictions, but is encouraging local health departments to “take the lead.”
During last week’s COVID-19 briefing, Governor Eric Holcomb said the State Fire Marshal’s Office had visited more than 70 sites, and the state excise police had made over 1,500 unannounced visits to alcohol-permitted businesses. “Forty-seven were found not to be in compliance with masking or social distancing,” Holcomb said, “and so we have seen, through those 1,500 and only those 47, with education efforts, nearly every single one of those, of the balance, that 47 balance, have come into compliance.”
Holcomb said he applauded the efforts made by local governments, including Marshall County and the City of Valparaiso, which have put their own restrictions and enforcement measures in place. “And that’s going to make a big difference across the whole State of Indiana, not just having a blanket reaction but looking at this regionally, county by county and regionally,” Holcomb added.
The governor encourages local governments to target the origin of the spread in their particular communities with their restrictions.
Meanwhile, State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box is calling on businesses to adopt a “no shirt, no shoes, no mask, no service” policy. “We all got used to the ‘no shirt and no shoes.’ There’s no reason we can’t get used to the ‘no mask,’ and encouraging them to make sure that if individuals want to come in and get service, this is what it’s going to require,” Box said. “And if individuals are not able, physically, to wear a mask, then there’s home delivery for pretty much anything that you want to get these days and how we can help individuals do that.”
Holcomb said the Indiana Finance Authority is ready to accept local governments’ requests for their share of $20 million to help with their education and enforcement efforts.
