Holcomb issues new virus restrictions

“This year has been more distant from immediate family than any other year in my life,” says Gov. Eric Holcomb, who is contemplating a socially distanced Thanksgiving with his family. File photo

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb revoked Stage 5 of the state’s reopening plan Wednesday and announced new measures in counties experiencing medium to high community spread of COVID-19 as cases continue to surge across the state.

The new measures, which take effect Sunday and last four weeks, include stricter limits on social gatherings, seasonal and commercial events and attendance at indoor K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular activities, among other restrictions.

The state is also making a total of $20 million available to cities, counties and other local government entities to provide funding for event plan review, education and compliance enforcement.

The state is also requiring businesses to place signs at their entrances and is directing the state department of Homeland Security and the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm Commission to monitor mask use and social distancing in local businesses and to investigate complaints.

The level of restrictions is based on the Indiana State Department of Health’s color-coded county map that measures weekly cases per 100,000 residents in each category and the seven-day positivity rate for all tests completed.

Each county is assigned a color based on the average of scores for the two metrics — blue, which indicates “minimal community spread;” yellow, which indicates “moderate community spread;” orange, which means “medium to high” spread; and red, which indicates “very high positivity and community spread.”

In counties that have fallen into the orange category, which includes Bartholomew County, social gatherings and special, seasonal and commercial events will be limited to no more than 50 people, state officials said.

Additionally, attendance at indoor K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular activities will be limited to 25%, and community recreational and sports leagues and tournaments will be limited to participants, required personnel and parents or guardians.

In counties that are are in the red category, social gatherings and special seasonal and commercial events will be limited to 25 people.

Attendance at indoor K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular activities, as well as community recreational and sports leagues and tournaments, in red counties will be limited to participants, required personnel and parents or guardians.

Currently, 87 of Indiana’s 92 counties, including Bartholomew County, are in the orange or red categories, according to the most recent update of the map.

Holcomb said Indiana is in the midst of a second surge of COVID-19 and urged Hoosiers to wear masks and maintain at least 6 feet of distance from people in public spaces.

“Unfortunately, too many of us, and around the country, have let our guards down and either assumed we won’t get it or if we do, so be it. We’ll get through it without any more universal consideration to what these multiplying numbers have on others and our system of care for them,” Holcomb said in a news briefing on Wednesday. “…That brings us to where we are today.”

The new restrictions came as state health officials reported a record 5,156 coronavirus cases Wednesday and surging hospitalizations across Indiana.

A total of 2,544 people in Indiana were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infections — the ninth straight day of record-setting coronavirus hospitalizations and more than triple the 759 hospitalizations on Sept. 21, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.

Hospitalizations at Columbus Regional Health also have hit a new high in recent days, with 27 people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Monday, the hospital said.

CRH has converted single rooms into double occupancy in its COVID-19 ward, the hospital said.

The sharp rise in hospitalizations is “inundating” hospitals, some of which are filling up and sending patients elsewhere, said Dr. Kristina Box, Indiana state health commissioner.

On Friday, there were 34 Columbus Regional Hospital employees quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19 or experiencing symptoms consistent with the coronavirus as of this Friday, said CRH spokeswoman Kelsey DeClue.

By Tuesday, that number had climbed to 36, DeClue said.

Cases of COVID-19 have been doubling in Indiana for four consecutive weeks and state health officials expect cases to continue to increase for some time, Box said.

“Based on information we’re hearing on national calls, we expect the surge that we are currently experiencing to continue for a number of weeks,” Box said. “But actually how long it continues depends on the actions that each of us take today and in the coming days and weeks.”

— The Associated Press contributed to this report

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The first doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer could arrive in Indiana later this month, Indiana State Department of Health Chief Medical Office Dr. Lindsay Weaver said during a press conference Wednesday.

Because the vaccine must be stored in minus 60 to minus 80 degree Celsius temperatures, five sites have been identified that will store doses. They are:

  • Community Hospital in Munster
  • Clark Memorial Hospital in Jeffersonville
  • Deaconess in Evansville
  • Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis
  • Parkview Health in Fort Wayne

Weaver said no one will be vaccinated until the state has authorization and advisory committees have given their OK. Health care workers and high-risk populations will be the first to receive it.

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New executive orders from Gov. Eric Holcomb are posted at https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/.

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