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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said Friday that he would ease some pandemic restrictions on businesses in Indianapolis, but not as much as the rest of the state.
Starting Monday, he said:
- Indianapolis restaurants, bars, nightclubs and other food businesses can operate at 50% indoor capacity and up to 100% outdoor capacity. That’s up from 25% for bars. Restaurants were already allowed to operate at 50% indoors. They will still be required to close at midnight.
- Live entertainment can resume at bars, clubs and performance venues, but only with a 10-foot buffer between stages and audiences. Audiences must practice social distancing.
- Museums, cultural and entertainment venues will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity.
- Gyms and fitness centers may expand from 25% to 50% capacity.
- Church and funeral services may be held indoors at 75% capacity.
Gov. Eric Holcomb said Wednesday he was moving Indiana to Stage 5 of the Back on Track recovery plan starting on Saturday, a move that essentially lifts all restrictions, except for some social distancing requirements and regulatory conditions for larger crowds. The state has been in Stage 4.5 since July 1.
Holcomb’s executive order allows local governments to impose more restrictive guidelines. Marion County has issued more stringent orders than the rest of the state throughout the pandemic.
Dr. Virginia Caine, director of the Marion County Department of Public Health, said Thursday morning during IBJ’s Health Care & Benefits Power Breakfast panel discussion that she wasn’t ready to lift all restrictions in Marion County.
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