The Marion County health department will be stepping up fines for businesses that violate social distancing and mask requirements.

Indianapolis and county officials reinstated restrictions Thursday on businesses, gatherings and when schools can open for in-person instruction in response to increase of COVID-19 infections.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) Director Dr. Virginia Caine gave free face coverings Thursday to families through a partnership with Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. The free face coverings were distributed in support of the countys new public health order, requiring all individuals to wear face coverings in public.

Marion County will join the state in it's reopening phase 4.5 on Thursday July 9. The county will also require face masks in public.

Though studies show that Black Americans face more complications and higher death rates from COVID-19, testing sites are scarce in Indianapolis neighborhoods with the most Black residents.

Marion County's 11 public school districts will open full-time for in class instruction on their previous scheduled start dates for the 2020-21 academic year.

Indianapolis will take more steps to open the economy and join the state's phase four plan next week.

City officials outlined proposals that allocate $76 million in federal funding and will be taken up by the City-County Council.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has issued a new curfew order for Marion County that will be in effect Friday and Saturday from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett says he does not plan to extend the curfew to Wednesday and Thursday nights, but indicated curfew orders are being planned for Friday and Saturday nights.