Holcomb Extends Mask Order, Keeps Indiana In Place On Reopening

Gov. Eric Holcomb is keeping his finger pressed on the pause button for Indiana’s reopening plan.

The state will stay in its current phase – Stage 4.5 – for at least another month. That means, for instance, restaurants can only be at 75 percent capacity, while bars, nightclubs and tourism sites are at 50 percent.

Holcomb said that extension comes even as some of Indiana’s COVID-19 metrics – like the rate at which tests come back positive – are trending down.

“We don’t want that to trend up; we’d like to see it trend down even more so,” Holcomb said.

The governor is also extending his statewide order to wear masks in public for another month. He said he understands people’s frustrations but insists the state must “deal with reality.”

“Is it spreading in fraternity houses? Is it spreading in church services?" Holcomb said. "Is it spreading at work; is it spreading at home? Is it spreading when we let our guard down?”

Indiana has been in its current reopening stage since early July.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.