Clinton County May Begin Stage 2 Of Reopening On May 4

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb outlined the reopening of Indiana by July 4th during his afternoon press conference on Friday, May 1, 2020.

The Governor outlined the social gathering limitations as they apply to each Stage:

Stage 2 (May 4) will allow social gatherings of up to 25 following CDC guidelines
Stage 3 (May 24) will allow gatherings of up to 100 following CDC guidelines
Stage 4 (June 14) will allow gatherings of up to 250 following CDC guidelines
Stage 5 (July 4) will allow gatherings of over 250 following CDC guidelines

Stage 2 is delayed for 3 counties in the state. Marion and Lake Counties will begin May 11 and Cass County will begin May 18.

Key Takeaways For Stage 2:

Beginning May 4:

• Social gatherings of 25 people may take place following the CDC social distancing guidelines

• Essential travel restrictions are lifted; local non-essential travel allowed

• Continue remote work whenever possible

• Religious services may convene inside places of worship (May 8th) – with specific social distancing guidelines

• Manufacturers, industrial operations, and other infrastructure that has not been in operation may open

• Public libraries may open

Beginning May 11:

• Personal services, such as hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, spas, and tattoo parlors. By appointment only with operational limitations. Employees must wear face coverings, work stations must be spaced to meet social distancing guidelines, and other requirements must be met. Customers should wear face coverings to the extent possible

• Restaurants and bars that serve food may open at 50% capacity with operational limitations. Bar seating will be closed with no live entertainment. Servers and kitchen staff must wear face coverings

Below is the full list provided by the State of Indiana in regards to Stage 2:

GUIDELINES FOR ALL HOOSIERS

• Hoosiers 65 and over and those with high-risk health conditions should remain at home whenever possible. This is the population that is most vulnerable to the coronavirus

• Recommend that residents wear face coverings in public settings. Residents also should continue to practice social distancing and good hygiene

• Social gatherings of 25 people may take place following the CDC social distancing guidelines. The coronavirus is often spread among groups of people who are in close contact in a confined space for an extended period of time. This limit applies to such events as wedding receptions, birthday parties, Mother’s Day gatherings, and others where people are in close physical contact for extended periods of time

• Essential travel restrictions are lifted; local non-essential travel allowed

• Continue remote work whenever possible

RELIGIOUS SERVICES – MAY 8

• Religious services may convene inside places of worship.

There are specific practices that should be considered for in-person services that are driven by social distancing guidelines and protections for those 65 and older and individuals with known high-risk medical conditions.

Examples of services include weddings, funerals, and baptisms.

WHAT OPENS

• Manufacturers, industrial operations, and other infrastructure that has not been in operation may open following OSHA and CDC guidelines.

• About half of the state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicle branches will open with services by appointment only; the remainder of branches will continue to open over the next two weeks

• Public libraries may open according to their own policies and CDC guidelines

• County and local governments will make decisions based on their policies and CDC guidelines

• Retail and commercial businesses, including those that have been open for the necessities of life during previous executive orders, may operate at 50% of capacity.

Examples include apparel, furniture, jewelry, and liquor stores that have been operating as curbside or delivery only

• Shopping malls may open at 50% capacity with indoor common areas at 25% capacity

• Those who work in office settings are encouraged to continue to work remotely whenever possible but may return to offices in small waves

WHAT OPENS (These business sectors may open a week after the start of Stage 2 ~ May 11th)

• Personal services, such as hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, spas, and tattoo parlors. By appointment only with operational limitations. Employees must wear face coverings, work stations must be spaced to meet social distancing guidelines, and other requirements must be met. Customers should wear face coverings to the extent possible

• Restaurants and bars that serve food may open at 50% capacity with operational limitations. Bar seating will be closed with no live entertainment. Servers and kitchen staff must wear face coverings

• State government executive branch offices will begin limited public services, and employees will begin to return to offices in small waves

• Boating is permitted, but boaters must follow social distancing guidelines

• Visitors to beaches and shorelines must adhere to the social gathering policy and social distancing guidelines

WHAT REMAINS CLOSED

• Individuals are not allowed to visit patients in assisted living/nursing home facilities

• Bars and nightclubs

• Gyms, fitness centers, community centers, and like facilities

• Cultural, entertainment, sports venues, and tourism
o This includes museums, zoos, festivals, parades, concerts, fairs, sports arenas, movie theaters, bowling alleys, aquariums, theme parks, recreational sports leagues and tournaments, and like facilities

• Playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, amusement parks whether indoors or outside, tourist sites, water parks, and social clubs

• Congregate settings for seniors, adult daycares remain closed through at least May 31

• Casino operations

• Community swimming pools, public and private

• Residential and day camps

• Campgrounds, except for those living permanently in RVs or cabins

K-12 Educational Institutions

• All buildings, facilities, and grounds for K-12 educational institutions, public or private, will remain closed through June 30, 2020, except for the purposes previously allowed in Executive Orders pertaining to this public health emergency.

• Educational institutions (including public and private pre-K-12 schools, colleges, and universities) may be open for purposes
of facilitating distance learning, performing critical research, or performing essential functions, provided that social distancing of 6 feet per person is maintained to the greatest extent possible.

• Educational institutions that were previously closed and are reopening for these purposes must perform enhanced environmental cleaning of commonly touched surfaces, such as workstations, countertops, railings, door handles, and doorknobs. Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label. Provide disposable wipes so commonly used surfaces can be wiped down by employees before each use.

• The Indiana Department of Education, in consultation with the Indiana Department of Health, shall develop guidance for graduation ceremonies, including virtual graduation, drive-in ceremonies, and in-person ceremonies with the number of participants limited to the number allowed in the governor’s executive order and provided social distancing requirements are met.

Stages 3 through 5 information can be found here:
https://cl.ly/b77a6ae4a259

Brett W. Todd is the managing editor of Clinton County Today. Clinton County Today is a community-focused website to provide individuals of Clinton County Indiana and surrounding areas with information impacting their lives. Clinton County Today is a service of Progressive Partners of Indiana, LLC where Brett W. Todd is its managing member.