INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Marion County Public Health Department Director Dr. Virginia Caine shared an update Wednesday morning on Marion County's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The current Marion County Public Health Order remains in effect, but Hogsett provided a path to returning to normalcy.
Beginning Monday, June 7, all Hoosiers who are fully vaccinated will no longer need to wear masks in Marion County unless a business or venue requires it.
Masks must still be worn for everyone while at hospitals and on public transportation, which includes the Indianapolis International Airport.
Capacity restrictions in Marion County will also be loosened on June 7:
- Religious services and funerals will be able to operate at 100 percent capacity (currently at 75 percent).
- Indoor service in bars, restaurants and other businesses will move to 75 percent capacity (currently at 50 percent in bars and 75 percent in restaurants).
- Personal service businesses will no longer have to be by appointment only. Capacity should still allow for six feet of social distancing.
- Indoor sporting venues and other large events will move to 50 percent capacity (currently at 25 percent).
- Entertainment and cultural venues will be able to hold up to 75 percent capacity (currently at 50 percent).
- Large gatherings will be able to have 500 people (currently at 50 people).
Dr. Caine said the full reopening of Marion County will be recommended when 50 percent of residents are fully vaccinated and there are an average of less than 100 daily cases reported. She predicts this will happen in July.
On June 2, Dr. Caine provided additional measures set to go into effect Monday, June 7:
- Public pools will be open at 100 percent capacity.
- Golf courses will be open at 75 percent capacity.
- Dance studios and summer camps should take the following steps:
- Strongly encourage all eligible people to get vaccinated, including staff
- Continue using masks
- Continue social distancing
- Keep campers in assigned groups
- Meals and snacks should be eaten outdoors, if possible.
Summer schools should follow current school guidance, which uses 3 feet of social distancing for all students.
Marion County venues and museums are left with a big decision: keep the masks or ditch them?
13News reached out to several places. Many of them said it’s too soon to decide and are weighing options before taking the next steps.
A spokesperson for the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis said executives will meet with their medical advisory team before making any changes.
Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center said they are sticking with their current protocols for now. Those include mandatory masks, social distancing and temperature checks.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidelines on masks, which says fully vaccinated people — those who are two weeks past their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine — can quit wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings and give up social distancing. However, partially vaccinated or unvaccinated people should continue wearing masks, the agency said. The guidance also still calls for masks in crowded indoor settings including buses, airplanes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters.
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