WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Indiana delayed moving into Stage 5 after Governor Eric Holcomb signed a new executive order on Wednesday.
The state will keep its current capacity limits at bars, restaurants and entertainment venues. According to the governor, the restrictions will be kept in place until at least July 18th. The 250-person social gathering limit will also be kept in place. In addition, the state will release Covid-19 nursing home data.
In a Covid-19 briefing on Wednesday, Governor Holcomb cited a recent increase in Covid-19 hospitalizations as a rationale for his decision. He said other states have seen spikes after lifting occupancy restrictions.
“Knowing that a date doesn’t drive us, but the data does,” he said, “we are prepared to go into Stage 4.5.”
Dr. Kristina Box, state health commissioner, said there was an increase in new positive cases and deaths on Wednesday at the governor’s weekly coronavirus briefing. Box clarified how the testing process works.
“The total number tested on our dashboard represents unique individuals,” she said, “Some people have had more than one test.”
Dr. Dan Rusyniak, chief medical officer for the Family and Social Services Administration, gave an update about Covid-19 nursing home data in the state.
Although the state is not requiring masks, it shared a video during the weekly briefing on Wednesday to encourage Indiana residents to wear a face covering.
Dr. Kristina Box said wearing a mask is one of the best things to do to protect yourself and others.
What will Stage 4.5 look like according to the governor’s executive order?
First off, all Indiana counties except for Elkhart County will move to stage 4.5 at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 3rd. The stage will end on Friday, July 17th, unless extended.
In Stage 4.5, fairs, festivals, parades and other places of “public amusement” are allowed to resume in accordance with the governor’s executive order.
If the public amusement venue is indoors, occupancy limits need to be less than 50 percent capacity. Public amusement parks are required to ensure social distance and proper sanitation.
Youth overnight camps will reopen according to the new executive order. Those camps are subject to the following requirements:
- There must be an employee screening which is required to have a daily health assessment for all employees and prevent any employee who shows symptoms of the virus.
- The state will start a procedure to detect symptoms of campers and those who come into contact with someone else who shows symptoms.
- It is only recommended that adults and campers over the age of two years old wear face masks.
- Adult to child ratio monitoring is recommended.
In this stage, conventions are legally allowed to resume, but only 250 people are allowed to attend, provided they can social distance and maintain sanitation.
Stage 4.5 also says horse racing is allowed, but only to 50 percent capacity.
Public access to government buildings will be available by appointment only.
Face Coverings Not Required at Local, State Level
Face coverings are not required in the governor’s plan. Some local officials throughout the state have taken it upon themselves to order mandatory face coverings.
For instance, Mayor Hogsett in Indianapolis issued an order to require face coverings in public spaces on Thursday. Elkhart, La Grange and St. Joseph counties issued similar mask mandates.
As of Thursday at 7 p.m. Monroe County has not issued any mandates to require masks.
Penny Caudill, Monroe County Health Administrator, said in a new county public health order that the county “strongly recommends the use of facial coverings when in public and unable to social distance, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Monroe County has the legal authority to require masks, but it has not done so. However, Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton said the county should consider mandation.
Hamilton said that he was happy to see Governor Holcomb put a pause on reopening. He highlighted three components during a COVID-19 press conference on July 2nd.
The county public health order also included four deviations to the governor’s order.
Those included:
- Indoor gatherings are limited to no more than 100 people.
- Outdoor gatherings are limited to no more than 150 people.
- In order for a bar to provide “bar hop” services, they must protect bar supplies from possible contamination by patrons at the bar.
- All businesses are required to post a sign, at the minimum 8’’ by 10’’, at the main entrance that requests patrons wear a mask.
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Mayor Hamilton Tested Positive for Covid-19 Antibodies
Bloomington Mayor Hamilton tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies, which means he most likely experienced a Covid-19 infection.
According to WGLC Radio, the mayor received two negative results to Covid-19 tests in April after he experienced flu-like symptoms and may have been exposed to Covid-19.
Dawn Johnsen, wife of the mayor, tested positive for Covid-19 and spent over a week in the hospital in April. That same month, her mother Carolyn Johnsen, died from Covid-19.
The mayor self-quarantined for 14 days after he felt symptoms.
According to the CDC, antibody tests check your blood by looking for antibodies, which may tell you if you had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19.
The CDC said, “antibody tests should not be used to diagnose a current COVID-19 infection. An antibody test may not show if you have a current COVID-19 infection because it can take 1–3 weeks after infection for your body to make antibodies.”
Stay tuned to next week’s local news to find out more Covid-19 updates.
