Gov. Eric Holcomb this morning (March 16) issued a new list of restrictions designed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The restrictions go much further than the ones issued last week. He ordered all schools to be closed. Following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he also discouraged all in-person events of 50 people or more. In restrictions announced last week, he did not close the schools and limited his recommendation on gatherings to 250 people or more.
He also required bars and restaurants to close to in-person patrons through the end of March.
Here is a list of other restrictions Holcomb announced on Monday morning. The Daily Reporter is reporting on the impacts of these measures and will have a complete story in the Tuesday print edition.
- Indiana will adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for large events and mass gatherings. The guidance recommends no in-person events of more than 50 people.
- Under the current guidance for schools, 273 public school districts are closed, using e-learning days, or on spring break and have announced a future closure. The Department of Education is working with the remaining 16 school corporations to determine their next steps and needs. (Hancock County schools already are either on spring break or are using e-learning days leading into spring break next week.)
- Bars, nightclubs and restaurants are required to close to in-person patrons and may provide take-out and delivery services through the end of March.
- Hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers should cancel and/or postpone elective and non-urgent surgical procedures immediately. This action will help the healthcare system conserve resources and personnel necessary to meet emerging health needs. Physicians should continue to perform critical procedures necessary to prevent short-term and/or long-term adverse effects to their patients’ overall health.
- The state’s Emergency Operations Center has been raised to a Level 1 status and will work in conjunction with the incident command center at the Indiana State Department of Health for planning, coordination, predictive analysis and other functions.
- State employees will maximize the use of remote work and meet virtually whenever possible while maintaining operations. Non-essential in-person meetings will be limited to 10 persons or less and should meet virtually whenever possible. High-risk individuals should not attend meetings in person.
- State employees over the age of 60 with underlying health conditions are advised to work from home, and agencies should identify work that can be accomplished remotely for those individuals.
- The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, which are closed on Mondays, will close to the public beginning Tuesday.
- The visitors center at White River State Park will close.
- Indiana state parks and recreation centers, including state park inns, remain open. Restaurants will convert operations to take-out and delivery.
- State agencies already are developing remote work plans for employees and will continue to implement them while maintaining necessary state services. Employees who work outdoors are encouraged to practice social distancing.
- The Department of Workforce Development has suspended rules requiring certain unemployment insurance claimants to physically appear at a Work One location to engage in reemployment services for the next four weeks. This will ensure that individuals who may be symptomatic do not have to physically appear to continue their unemployment insurance eligibility. The department also request flexibility under federal and state law to expand eligibility for claimants and ease burdens on employers.
- The Indiana Economic Development Corporation will postpone the inaugural Indiana Global Economic Summit, scheduled for April 26-28.
- Communities are encouraged to work together to provide child care options for all who need assistance and delivery services of meals and other necessities for senior citizens.
- Hoosiers who can donate blood are encouraged to visit local blood centers. Blood supplies are low. Please follow the guidance at www.redcross.org
