INDIANAPOLIS — Just after Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb extended an executive order requiring wearing masks Wednesday, he was to be tested for COVID-19 along with his staff for possible infection.
The mask mandate, which has been extended until Nov. 14, requires anyone 8 years or older to wear masks or face coverings in indoor public spaces, commercial entities and on public transportation, as well as when outdoors and without the ability to maintain 6 feet of physical distance from others.
The order comes at the same time the governor did not re-impose stricter limits on businesses and social gatherings even as hospitalizations in the state soar and Indiana’s state health commissioner tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in the need for state officials to get tested for the virus.
Holcomb said the state will stay in Stage 5 of the governor’s plan to reopen, a stage that lifted capacity restrictions at restaurants, bars and night clubs as long as all customers are seated and social distancing of at least 6 feet is observed between non-household members, according to the revised text of Holcomb’s plan.
Additionally, gyms, fitness centers and workout facilities can resume normal operations, but face coverings and social distancing are required.
However, Holcomb, who wore a mask during a virtual press conference on Wednesday, pleaded with Hoosiers for several minutes to wear masks and comply with social distancing guidelines, warning that too many people “are ignoring science and rolling the dice.”
“Those inactions are causing, just to be blunt, health care costs, lost wages, business failures,” Holcomb said. “Don’t kid yourself, we’re all paying this bill, and the bill’s coming due, and throwing caution to the wind ultimately ends up costing us all. It is literally the definition of whistling past the graveyard.”
Dr. Kristina Box, Indiana’s state health commissioner, announced Wednesday during the governor’s press conference that she, her adult daughter and 23-month-old grandson have tested positive for COVID-19, resulting in all three being in quarantine.
The grandson is believed to have contracted the virus at a day care and had mild symptoms consistent with a cold on Friday, which the daughter started experiencing over the weekend, Box said.
Box said she left work Tuesday afternoon and got tested for COVID-19 after finding out that two of the workers at her grandson’s day care tested positive for the virus. Box said she has not experienced any symptoms so far.
State officials said Holcomb, as well as members of the governor’s office, state health department and other officials would get tested for COVID-19 on Wednesday afternoon and quarantine out of an “abundance of caution.”
The announcements from the governor came as hospitalizations continued to rise to levels not seen in months, reaching the point, in some parts of the state, that hospitals are reporting a “critical” shortage of ICU beds, said Dr. Lindsay Weaver, chief medical officer at the Indiana State Department of Health.
A total of 1,357 people in Indiana were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infections as of Tuesday, up 69 from the day before, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
“That is the highest number we have seen since May 13,” Weaver said.
Hospitals in District 2 (around St. Joseph and Elkhart counties), District 6 (around Delaware County) and District 10 (around Vanderburgh County) are having “critical” ICU bed shortages, as well as personnel shortages, Weaver said.
Additionally, Weaver said the state has sent out another call for health care reservists to help fill staffing shortages.
“Unfortunately, many people have begun to treat this pandemic as if it is over, and our numbers reflect the impact of that loss of vigilance,” Weaver said.
Holcomb said he and other state officials will revisit the decision to continue in Stage 5 next week with another update planned on Oct. 21.
