Starting June 7, Marion County will loosen COVID-19 restrictions, including capacity limitations and the mask requirement for fully vaccinated individuals. The move follows recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that state it’s safe for vaccinated people to not wear a mask or social distance.
In a press conference May 19, Mayor Joe Hogsett said he’s confident vaccination rates will rise over the next two and half weeks. Roughly 31% of Marion County residents are fully vaccinated, meaning they got their last dose two weeks ago or more. Dr. Virginia Caine, director of the Marion County Public Health Department, said she wants to see the county reach a 50% vaccination rate. She’s confident Indianapolis can reach that goal by July 4, at which time restrictions could loosen more.
The city and county health department will recommend the city-county council approve to increase capacity at funerals and religious services to 100%, restaurants and bars to 75%, indoor sporting events to 50% and entertainment venues to 75%. Personal service businesses, such as barbershops, will no longer have to be by appointment only, but Caine said business owners should ensure there’s enough space for non-vaccinated people to socially distance.
Following recent legislation from the Indiana General Assembly, Hogsett now must receive approval of the city-county council to enact public health recommendations.
Fully vaccinated Marion County residents will no longer have to wear masks, unless asked to by businesses, or if they’re in a health care facility or using public transportation, including airports. However, Caine said Indianapolis will go by the “honor system,” and will not require residents to provide proof of vaccination to forgo a mask.
“This welcomed news does not mean the end of the pandemic is here yet,” Caine said. “But this progress gives us hope there’s light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, but we can’t be blindsided by the light. If we continue to get vaccinated, washing our hands and continue to social distance and wear masks for now, the full reopening of our community is within our reach.”
Previously, Caine said she wanted at least a 75% vaccination rate before loosening mask restrictions. However, she said the 31% vaccination rate mixed with the roughly 30% of Marion County residents temporarily immune to COVID-19 due to testing positive within the last three months, gets the county to (temporary) herd immunity. Both Caine and Hogsett urge more Marion County residents to get vaccinated in the coming days.
“The new CDC guidance made clear what we have said throughout the past several months,” Hogsett said. “It is the vaccine that is getting us back to normal. … The more people who choose that option, the stronger and faster will be our recovery.”
Contact staff writer Breanna Cooper at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @BreannaNCooper.
To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine, visit ourshot.in.gov.
