Marion County to reopen incrementally, portions of Phase 2 to come by May 15
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Marion County’s stay-at-home order will expire on Friday.
Mayor Joe Hogsett said Wednesday morning that the percentage of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Marion County are dropping but not enough to fling the gates of the city wide open. The county is coming back on line slower than the rest of the state.
City officials also say they have a stockpile of face coverings which are free to Marion County residents as the reopenings get underway. The mayor also announced $5 million in grant money for small business to buy and install personal protection equipment for employees and staff.
After the expiration of the order current stay-at-home order, the county will begin “reopening incrementally.” Hogsett said that on Friday, the city will start implementing portions of Indiana’s Phase 2.
Changes for May 15:
- In-person gatherings, including worship services, will go from 10 to 25 people.
- Non-essential retail (including shopping malls) may open at 50% capacity.
- Indianapolis Public Library branches may offer curbside service.
Changes for May 22:
- In-person dining at restaurants will be permitted but only in outside dining areas and with strict social distancing. Restaurants will be capped at 50% capacity and employees must wear personal protective equipment.
Targeted for June 1:
- Personal services such as hair and nail salons.
- Non-essential manufacturing and industrial.
Hogsett says bars, theater, gyms, arcades, zoo and museums will be reopened in a future phase.
Hogsett and health officials had previously extended the county’s stay-at-home order two weeks until May 15 while restrictions in the majority of the state have been loosening.
Asked about the Fourth of July celebrations in Indianapolis, he said so far no decision has been made.
Mayor, health official explain their thinking
So, starting Friday, people can saunter down to Circle Centre Mall or any shopping destination in Marion County. Hogsett is allowing nonessestial retail to reopen at 50% capacity, and the same goes for liquor stores.
“These delays are not are not driven by politics or spite but by careful analysis of all the data available to us,” the mayor said.
Dr. Virginia Caine, director for Marion County Public Health Department, said an increase in testing for all residents has driven up the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Marion County. But, she says, the percentage of positive cases is going down and there are fewer deaths and hospital admissions
The mayor said, “We have been seeing a sustained decrease in out hospital admissions for persons with COVID-19 positive tests.”
It will be another week before restaurants can do in-person dining. The mayor says that can begin Memorial Day weekend but only with outdoor seating.
Nonessential manufacturing and industrial facilities must stay closed, and personal services including hair and nail salons will not be allowed to reopen until at least June 1.
“We believe if the trajectory of this virus continues to stabilize and hopefully decline, the remainder of these Phase 2 reopenings maybe possible as soon as June 1,”Hogsett said.
Restaurants react to Hogsett’s outdoor-dining reopening plan
Restaurants are scrambling to figure out new plans for reopening. Some operators say they were a little blindsided by the mayor’s announcement Wednesday about how they can begin to reopen.
Some restaurants were preparing for a delayed start of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s plan laid out nearly two weeks ago for all but three counties, including Marion County. Chatham Tap Restaurant & Pub, 719 Massachusetts Ave., had set up its dining room to have tables at a good distance, only to find out that indoor seating wasn’t allowed. Now, they’ll be stuck with their outdoor seating.
Chatham Tap owner Daniel Jones said, “This location has a very small patio, so it may just be three or four tables for us. But at least it’s something.”
Not many restaurants and pubs on in the Mass Ave. Cultural District have designated outdoor seating. Rooster’s Kitchen is one of those places.
“Uh, we don’t,” Rooster’s chef Steven Tuttle said. “We are working on getting permission to do so. So, we are taking steps to try and ensure some outdoor seating so that we can open up May 22.”
Hogsett said there’s a possibility of roads shutting down to make space for outdoor seating. He said it could help out some restaurants that otherwise would be stuck doing carryout, but which roads are anybody’s guess.
Jones said, “I mean, I feel bad for those locations that don’t have any outdoor seating. It’s not really a level playing field for them right now. You know, they’ve been hurting just like everyone else these last few months.”
Tuttle said, “Whatever happens, we will do the best we can. We’ll figure out ways to stay open.”
Some people walking around the Mass Ave. district on Wednesday said a little bit of a traffic diversion wouldn’t be the end of the world if it helps get stores back on track. Sarah Hays said “I mean, most people still aren’t going into work, and I feel like traffic isn’t that busy right now anyway, So if that’s … I feel like that’s a small price to pay to keep local restaurants.”
Restaurants say there are still plenty of questions on how the system will work if outdoor seating is extended: where alcohol is allowed to be served, what the capacity on street seating could be.