March 24, 2021 at 12:10 a.m.
Opening up
Vaccination eligibility will expand March 31; state restrictions will be lifted April 6
Opening up
Beginning next week, coronavirus vaccinations will be available to all Hoosiers 16 and older.
Less than a week later, state COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb during a speech Tuesday announced plans for the continued rollback of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic that has been ongoing for more than a year.
“Some big steps forward,” said Heath Butz of Jay County Health Department shortly after Holcomb concluded his speech. “I hope that people continue to do those measures, even if they aren’t required, in the situations that need them — social distancing, masking, hand sanitizing. I think all of us want to keep moving in this positive direction and I think doing those little things will help us continue in that direction.”
Holcomb noted the federal government Tuesday told states to expect large increases in the number of vaccines they receive beginning next week. For that reason, he said as of March 31 vaccination appointments will be available to all Hoosiers 16 and older. Currently, appointments are available to those 40 and older.
The current state health emergency and related executive order expire March 31. Holcomb said Tuesday he will extend the health emergency for another month, allowing the state to act quickly if circumstances change and to access the millions of dollars of federal funds that are available to help fight the pandemic.
The executive order that details restrictions will be extended through April 5. After that, state COVID-19 restrictions, such as the mask mandate and limits on capacity at restaurants, will be lifted. (The state will shift to a “mask advisory,” 6 feet of social distance will still be recommended and local government officials will be able to put restrictions in place as they see fit.) Kindergarten through 12th grade schools will stay under current restrictions for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.
Like Butz, Holcomb encouraged Indiana residents to continue to take sensible precautions such as getting testing, isolating when necessary, staying home when sick, washing hands, being cautious about contact with those at high risk and wearing a mask.
“When I visit my favorite restaurants or conduct a public event, I will continue to appropriately wear a mask,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do.
“As we continue to do these few things, the light at the end of the tunnel becomes brighter and brighter.”
When vaccine eligibility opens to those 16-and-older next week, appointments can be scheduled at ourshot.in.gov or by calling the state’s 2-1-1 telephone assistance service.
Jay County has vaccination clinics available at Jay County Health Department and IU Health Jay.
To ensure that all doses are used, the health department encouraged those younger than 40 to sign up for its standby list by calling (260) 726-8080.
“We ask everybody, please get scheduled,” he said. “We have lots of times available … this week and the weeks to follow. We have lots of slots available for anybody that hasn’t gotten their shots. … We want to serve as a provider and get everybody vaccinated.”
As of Tuesday, more than 6,750 doses of coronavirus vaccine had been administered in Jay County, with 2,642 fully vaccinated. Statewide, about 2.44 million doses have been administered with 970,161 fully vaccinated.
Holcomb spent the bulk of his speech Tuesday recapping the events of the last year-plus, noting Indiana’s first COVID-19 related death on March 16, 2020. Since then, the death toll has been more than 12,500 Hoosiers and 550,000 Americans, with more than 2.6 million deaths worldwide. (That includes 28 Jay County residents.)
He praised the efforts of those who took steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, from state health commissioner Dr. Kristina Box to all those who have made adjustments to their daily lives.
“In a way, the hero in this modern-day tragedy is everyone who adjusted their lives to protect our families, our coworkers and our neighbors,” Holcomb said.
“I’ve never been prouder, prouder because of the Hoosier spirit itself,” he added. “Indiana, indeed, rose to the challenge, time and time again.
Less than a week later, state COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb during a speech Tuesday announced plans for the continued rollback of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic that has been ongoing for more than a year.
“Some big steps forward,” said Heath Butz of Jay County Health Department shortly after Holcomb concluded his speech. “I hope that people continue to do those measures, even if they aren’t required, in the situations that need them — social distancing, masking, hand sanitizing. I think all of us want to keep moving in this positive direction and I think doing those little things will help us continue in that direction.”
Holcomb noted the federal government Tuesday told states to expect large increases in the number of vaccines they receive beginning next week. For that reason, he said as of March 31 vaccination appointments will be available to all Hoosiers 16 and older. Currently, appointments are available to those 40 and older.
The current state health emergency and related executive order expire March 31. Holcomb said Tuesday he will extend the health emergency for another month, allowing the state to act quickly if circumstances change and to access the millions of dollars of federal funds that are available to help fight the pandemic.
The executive order that details restrictions will be extended through April 5. After that, state COVID-19 restrictions, such as the mask mandate and limits on capacity at restaurants, will be lifted. (The state will shift to a “mask advisory,” 6 feet of social distance will still be recommended and local government officials will be able to put restrictions in place as they see fit.) Kindergarten through 12th grade schools will stay under current restrictions for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.
Like Butz, Holcomb encouraged Indiana residents to continue to take sensible precautions such as getting testing, isolating when necessary, staying home when sick, washing hands, being cautious about contact with those at high risk and wearing a mask.
“When I visit my favorite restaurants or conduct a public event, I will continue to appropriately wear a mask,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do.
“As we continue to do these few things, the light at the end of the tunnel becomes brighter and brighter.”
When vaccine eligibility opens to those 16-and-older next week, appointments can be scheduled at ourshot.in.gov or by calling the state’s 2-1-1 telephone assistance service.
Jay County has vaccination clinics available at Jay County Health Department and IU Health Jay.
To ensure that all doses are used, the health department encouraged those younger than 40 to sign up for its standby list by calling (260) 726-8080.
“We ask everybody, please get scheduled,” he said. “We have lots of times available … this week and the weeks to follow. We have lots of slots available for anybody that hasn’t gotten their shots. … We want to serve as a provider and get everybody vaccinated.”
As of Tuesday, more than 6,750 doses of coronavirus vaccine had been administered in Jay County, with 2,642 fully vaccinated. Statewide, about 2.44 million doses have been administered with 970,161 fully vaccinated.
Holcomb spent the bulk of his speech Tuesday recapping the events of the last year-plus, noting Indiana’s first COVID-19 related death on March 16, 2020. Since then, the death toll has been more than 12,500 Hoosiers and 550,000 Americans, with more than 2.6 million deaths worldwide. (That includes 28 Jay County residents.)
He praised the efforts of those who took steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, from state health commissioner Dr. Kristina Box to all those who have made adjustments to their daily lives.
“In a way, the hero in this modern-day tragedy is everyone who adjusted their lives to protect our families, our coworkers and our neighbors,” Holcomb said.
“I’ve never been prouder, prouder because of the Hoosier spirit itself,” he added. “Indiana, indeed, rose to the challenge, time and time again.
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