The rules have changed, but Hoosiers aren’t in the clear of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the direction of Gov. Eric Holcomb, the state has moved to Stage 5 of his reopening plan.
In short, aside from some social distancing guidelines, Holcomb removed almost all of the state’s restrictions on Saturday.
The state is no longer requiring capacity limits for restaurants, bars, retail stores, gyms, fitness centers and salons as long as social distancing and other guidelines are followed. It’s also allowing social gatherings of over 250 people, but asks that events planned for over 500 people consult their local health departments.
Many will champion the governor’s decision, as virus fatigue has set in over the past six months, but it’s not an indication that the coronavirus has gone away — or that the state won’t move backwards should a surge in cases occur.
While most limits have been lifted, the statewide mask mandate has been extended through at least Oct. 17 — a measure that will likely continue into the winter months as the cold and flu season ramps up.
Holcomb has moved forward with his planning, but his task force is still deferring to local health departments as to what restrictions need to stay in place on a county-by-county basis.
Bartholomew County has done better than most other Indiana counties in keeping its numbers down, but the state has still averaged between 700 and 1,000 new cases per day since early July.
On Friday, members of the local COVID-19 Community Task Force opted to follow the state’s lead, as the latest virus metrics indicated that Bartholomew County is in the “minimal spread” category for all of its indicators.
Some individuals and businesses will go back to the old way of doing things, but many will also hold back on moving forward.
There’s room for optimism and hope, but each and every citizen will still need to continue to hold themselves accountable for slowing the spread of the virus.
The new few weeks should resemble a caution lap, as all it takes is one small mistake to set off a disastrous chain reaction — something no community can afford.
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