This story was updated on July 2, 2020 to correct an error in reporting part of the amended reopening plan regarding social gatherings. Social gatherings of up to 250 people may take place following the CDC social distancing guidelines.
HANCOCK COUNTY — Fireworks are slated to light up the night sky on Saturday during what will be Greenfield’s first major community event since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
For many in Hancock County, it will culminate a day of getting together for cookouts and celebrating Independence Day. The holiday is also scheduled to kick off a newly added intermediate stage of Indiana’s COVID-19 reopening plan.
Craig Felty, vice president, chief nursing officer and chief operating officer of Hancock Regional Hospital, shared advice on how to enjoy the holiday safely amid the pandemic.
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“There’s nothing that says you can’t meet with your family, but try and keep some distance between you,” he said. “It’s really going to end up being a good thing in the long run for everybody.”
Social distancing needs to become a new reality, he continued, and not just as people gather for barbecues and fireworks on Saturday, but on into the future as well.
“We need to look for our norm to be to social-distance ourselves as much as we can,” Felty said. “…Avoid hugging, kissing, potentially anything that’s going to pass the virus.”
People should wear masks when in groups, he also said. If you’re having a picnic or some other kind of get-together, make sure there’s plenty of alcohol-based hand sanitizer and use it often.
“We just want people to use good hygiene,” Felty said.
He feels entering a new stage of the Back on Track Indiana plan is warranted for Hancock County.
“I think the general public is doing a pretty good job,” he said. “I’m a little concerned about what’s going on in other areas of the country. All that’s going to take is a couple cases here to get that going again potentially.”
Other states have been reporting spikes in cases of the novel coronavirus. Virginia is scaling back plans to fully reopen bars. Florida, Arizona, Texas and California have closed or otherwise clamped down on bars, shut beaches, rolled back restaurant capacity and put limits on crowds at pools.
“We know it’s here to stay; it’s not going anywhere,” Felty said of the virus. “As long as we keep it under control, I think we’ll be OK. I’m just cautiously optimistic, of course.”
Felty pointed out how flu season is only a few months away, and that virus is transmitted the same way as COVID-19 — by respiratory droplets released when people talk, cough or sneeze.
“I think we’re going to help ourselves with future diseases like the flu, having gone through this COVID thing,” he said. “It helps people remind themselves things they need to do to prevent the transmission of this stuff.”
As of Wednesday morning, Hancock Regional Hospital was not treating any patients suffering from COVID-19, Felty said. He added the hospital has probably been averaging one to two a week lately and that those patients have been recovering and getting discharged.
The Indiana State Department of Health on Wednesday recorded 11 new COVID-19 cases among Hancock County residents, the first double-digit increase within a 24-hour period since early May. County residents known to have died from COVID-19 remained at 35, and tests rose to 6,167, the newest 86 of which between June 10 and 30.
Meanwhile, Greenfield’s Fourth of July fireworks will be a welcome — if socially distanced — respite from the pandemic.
Nick Dellen, president of Dellen Automotive, has underwritten Greenfield’s fireworks for the past several years.
“We started doing it just as something to do for the community because we wanted to do something everybody enjoys,” he said. “I think everybody enjoys fireworks and celebrating our nation’s independence. I think this year more than any is an important year to do that… With everything that’s going on right now, just having a night to look up and see some good fireworks and smile a little bit is something we all need right now.”
Dellen said he spoke with Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell about the fireworks, and they felt confident that the event would be safe if attendees practice social distancing. With the display being launched from Greenfield-Central Junior High School, many city residents will be able to see them from the comfort of their own yards, Dellen said.
Fireworks and more are coming to Fortville a week after Independence Day. The #FabFortville Festival & Fireworks starts at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at Landmark Park in the 200 block of East Staat Street. Along with fireworks, the event will feature four live musical acts, a kids zone, shopping on nearby Main Street and more than 50 vendors.
Nancy Strickland, executive director of the Fortville/McCordsville Area Chamber of Commerce, which organized the event, said the organization decided to move forward with it because many community members asked for it not to be canceled.
“We’re counting on our attendees to be responsible and wear their masks and do their best to social distance,” Strickland said. “We will have hand sanitizer and our vendors will be taking precautions as well.”
Elsewhere in Hancock County, organizers of New Palestine’s Summer Fest have rescheduled their fireworks, along with the rest of the event, to Aug. 26-28. It will be held as a Labor Day celebration instead.
Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday announced a “Stage 4.5” of Back on Track Indiana to start on July 4, the day the reopening plan’s fifth and final phase was originally scheduled to commence.
Stage 4 restrictions that continue include social gatherings of up to 250 people may take place following the CDC social distancing guidelines. The coronavirus is often spread among groups of people who are in close contact in a confined space for an extended period of time. This limit applies to wedding receptions, parties, and other events where people are in close physical contact for extended periods of time, particularly in indoor locations.
State government building access is restricted to by appointment. State employees are required to wear masks in public areas, with exceptions.
Restaurant dining room food service may operate at up to 75% capacity as long as social distancing is observed, and bar seating in restaurants may operate at 50% capacity as long as social distancing is observed. Bars and nightclubs may operate at 50% capacity adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Cultural, entertainment and tourism sites may operate at 50% capacity. That includes museums, zoos, aquariums and like facilities. Movie theaters, bowling alleys and similar facilities may operate at 50% capacity, adhering to social distancing guidelines. Race tracks may operate at 50% grandstand capacity.
Amusement parks, water parks and like facilities may operate at 50% capacity, and reservations are encouraged to limit the number of customers at any one time. Personal services continue operations with restrictions. Gyms, fitness centers and other workout facilities may continue operations with restrictions.
K-12 school operations may begin the 2020-21 academic year on July 1; extra-curricular, co-curricular activities may resume July 6.
Pari-mutuel horse racing and county and state fair racing may begin with 50% spectator capacity.
Fairs, festivals and other similar outdoor events may open with restrictions. Youth overnight camps may open. Conventions may resume following the Gatherings and Meetings Guidelines of Executive Order 20-32, which outlines how single and multiple-site venues may operate. Masks are highly recommended for all participants.
Hoosiers 65 and older and those with known high-risk medical conditions should adhere to social distancing guidelines and remain cautious at work and in their communities.
Remote work may continue as needed. Face coverings are highly recommended.
Outdoor visitation must resume July 4 at assisted living facilities and nursing homes, in accordance with state department of health visitation guidelines. Indoor nursing home and assisted living visitation may resume on July 4. Facilities must have a plan for indoor visitation by Stage 5, which is scheduled to start on July 18.
Hospital visitations are encouraged with precautions.
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WHAT: Fireworks
WHEN: Shortly after dusk Saturday, July 4
WHERE: Greenfield Central Junior High School, 1440 N. Franklin St., Greenfield
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WHAT: #FabFortville Festival & Fireworks
WHEN: 5 p.m. Saturday, July 11
WHERE: Landmark Park, Fortville
MUSIC SCHEDULE:
- 5:30-6:15 p.m. The Narrow (contemporary Christian)
- 6:30-7:15 p.m. Joy River Band (bluegrass and gospel)
- 7:30-8:15 p.m. Alyssa Campbell (singer/songwriter)
- 8:30-9:30 p.m. The Revery (country rock and covers)
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COVID-19 data as of 11:59 p.m. June 30
Hancock County
- 429 cases
- 35 deaths
- 6,167 tests
Indiana
- 45,952 cases
- 2,456 deaths
- 489,716 tests
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