Holcomb To Extend 'Stay-At-Home' Order, Elaborates On Reopening Economy

Gov. Eric Holcomb says he’s asking for input from businesses and associations across the state to help determine what sectors of the economy may begin to gradually reopen.

Holcomb announced Friday he would be extending the state’s “Stay-At-Home” order through May 1, falling in line with neighboring states. Holcomb says he is working with the Indiana Hospital Association to ease restrictions on elective procedures, as long as personal protective equipment supplies and hospital capacity remain level. 

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He says plans to reopen businesses are being made now, so Indiana doesn’t fall behind.

“What we don’t want to do is end up on the 22nd or May 1 or any date thereafter, and wish we would’ve done a lot of work to position ourselves to loosen up in an area that is safe,” Holcomb says.

State Health Commissioner Kris Box says data from hospitals supports those plans. She says, in many parts of the state, data indicates a plateau or even a decline in cases and deaths. 

“So that is the kind of things that make us feel like we can start to think along these lines,” Box says.

Holcomb says he’s heard from businesses that are prepared to provide protective equipment and make accommodations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 if they reopen.

Contact Lauren at lchapman@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @laurenechapman_.

This is a rapidly evolving story, and we are working hard to bring you the most up-to-date information. However, we recommend checking the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Indiana State Department of Health for the most recent numbers of COVID-19 cases.