Friday, May 8, 2020
Recently, Gov. Holcomb announced a plan to safely reopen Indiana's economy in a series of five staggered phases, as well as a website, BackOnTrack.in.gov, to compile resources to help Hoosiers understand the current guidelines and what to expect going forward.
Having completed phase one – March 23 to May 4 – most Indiana counties are now on to phase two, which began May 4. Currently, with proper social distancing guidelines in place, Hoosiers can now gather in groups of up to 25, retail and commercial businesses can open up to 50% capacity, and after a week in phase two, barbershops, salons, and restaurants can open at 50% capacity. Due to a higher concentration of COVID-19 cases, Lake and Marion counties will enter phase two on May 11, and Cass County will enter this phase on May 18.
Assuming the situation does not worsen in Indiana, starting May 24, gatherings of up to 100 people will be permitted and gyms and playgrounds will open with proper social distancing. Movie theaters may also open at 50% capacity.
Starting June 14, groups of up to 250 are permitted and bars and nightclubs may open at 50% capacity. By July 4, the state could open up with no restrictions.
Local government officials may choose to operate with more restrictions than required by the state, so it's important to stay informed about the rules in your community.
The governor’s Back on Track plan will continue to move forward as long as the guiding principles, found here, are met. The state has also expanded testing and contact tracing, giving us a better idea of how many Hoosiers have come in contact with or been infected with COVID-19. To view a map of testing sites in Indiana, click here.
This plan may continue to develop as new information is available and will give the administration time to adjust accordingly. For more information on Indiana's plan to reopen, visit BackOnTrack.in.gov.
