On Friday Governor Eric J. Holcomb signed an executive order to implement pandemic requirements for all Hoosiers and targeted restrictions for counties that have high levels of COVID-19.
Face coverings are now required for all Hoosiers. Businesses of all types are required to place clearly visible signs at their public and employee entrances notifying all that face coverings are required.
Local governments may impose more restrictive guidelines.
“We must do all we can to protect our hospital capacity, so our health care professionals can protect and care for patients,” Holcomb said. “Not only for those who have COVID, but for the cancer patient, the heart patient, and the other Hoosier patients who need care in our urban, rural, and suburban hospitals all across the state of Indiana.”
The Indiana Department of Health has established a color-coded county map that measures weekly cases per 100,000 residents and the seven-day positivity rate for all tests completed. Each county is assigned a color based on the average of scores for the two metrics. Restrictions are assigned based on the map, which is updated each Wednesday at www.coronavirus.in.gov.
Both Jackson and Scott Counties are currently orange rated counties representing the next to the highest COVID community spread ratings with both have increasing positivity of those tested.
Nine Indiana counties are currently red while 5 are rated yellow. No county is rated blue; 78 counties are orange, the next to highest.
Among the Governor’s requirements are:
Blue: The county has low community spread.
•Social gatherings of any kind, indoor or outdoor, are limited to 250 people.
•A special, seasonal or commercial event for which more than 250 people will be in attendance, must submit a plan to the local health department at least seven days in advance and receive approval before proceeding. This requirement is effective Nov. 22.
Yellow: The county has moderate community spread.
•Social gatherings of any kind, indoor or outdoor, are limited to 100 people.
•A special, seasonal or commercial event for which more than 100 people will be in attendance, must submit a plan to the local health department at least seven days in advance and receive approval before proceeding. This requirement is effective Nov. 22.
Orange: The county’s community spread is approaching high levels. These requirements are in effect when a county reaches the Orange metric and remain until a county moves to Yellow or Blue for two straight weeks.
•Social gatherings of any kind, indoor or outdoor, are limited to 50 people.
•A special, seasonal or commercial event for which more than 50 people will be in attendance, must submit a plan to the local health department at least seven days in advance and receive approval before proceeding. College and professional sports are included. This requirement is effective Nov. 22.
Red: The county has very high positivity and community spread. When a county is in the Red metric, these requirements remain in effect until the metric has returned to Orange or lower for two weeks.
•Social gatherings of any kind, indoor or outdoor, are limited to 25 people.
•A special, seasonal or commercial event for which more than 25 people will be in attendance, must submit a plan to the local health department at least seven days in advance and receive approval before proceeding. College and professional sports are included. This requirement is effective Nov. 22.
Regardless of a county’s color code, face coverings are required for all Hoosiers. Businesses of all types are required to place clearly visible signs at their public and employee entrances notifying all that face coverings are required.
All customers in restaurants and bars are required to be seated. Tables, counters, or other seating arrangements must be spaced six feet apart.
The executive order is in effect now until at least Saturday, Dec. 12.
