Indiana Keeps Its Reopening Plan On Hold Through July

The state won’t advance its reopening plan for “at least” another two weeks, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Wednesday.

Indiana was set to move into its final phase this weekend. But several COVID-19 metrics – including higher percentages of positive tests and more hospitalizations – are trending in the wrong direction.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said she hopes those numbers push people toward compliance.

“I do feel like it is a time for Hoosiers to decide that they are going to go back to more careful social distancing and to wear their masks,” Box said.

The governor said along with holding steady on current restrictions – for instance, 75 percent capacity at restaurants, 50 percent at bars, nightclubs and other entertainment venues – the state will require organizers of any event with more than 250 people to get approval for their COVID-19 safety plans from local health departments.

“Capacity levels will stay the same but how we approve events is gonna have that local component as we work our way into the fall,” Holcomb said.

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Holcomb still won’t impose a statewide mask-wearing mandate. Instead, he’s allowing local governments to make those decisions.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.