Gov. Holcomb’s “next steps” for Indiana’s fight against the coronavirus were announced Thursday afternoon.

One year to the day after his first major COVID-19 address and stay-at-home order, Holcomb looked back on the impact of the pandemic over the past year. He pointed out that the state’s first COVID death happened last year on March 16th. It now stands at 12,553. More than 679,000 have tested positive in the state, and more than 970 thousand are fully vaccinated as of March 23rd.

“As humbled as I am by all of our losses, I’ve never been prouder of the Hoosier spirit” and how Hoosiers responded to the pandemic. He reflected on the impacts the pandemic has had in the last year on Indiana’s families, economy, and unemployment. Indiana’s unemployment is down to 4.2% after spiking at 16%. We have one of the lowest jobless rates in the country.

He also thanked healthcare and other essential workers who have kept things running since day 1 of the shutdown.

Holcomb says Hoosiers had to leave loved ones at the door of the ER because it was too dangerous to let them in the room with them. He said he thinks of those who died, many of them alone, “every day.”

Current cases, hospitalizations and deaths have dropped dramatically since mid-January,and Indiana has three vaccines in use right now. There are 600 COVID cases in the latest hospital census, down from 3,500 in December.

Our state’s current public state health emergency and public order expire at the end of the month, but Holcomb says he will extend them another 30 days to stay on top of positive trends and continue utilizing hundreds of millions in federal funding. This also allows for quick action in the event of another turn for the worse.

March 31st will also see vaccine eligibility extended to all Hoosiers over the age of 16. More mass vaccination clinics will open in April, and a large employer vaccination program is coming.

Current restrictions in the state will be extended through April 5th. After that date, all venue capacity decisions will shift to local officials.

Additionally, the face covering mandate with become a “statewide advisory” starting April 6th. Schools will still be required to use masks through the end of the year, and local governments can also continue to enact their own mask mandates. Holcomb said that he plans to continue wearing a mask, because “it’s the right thing to do.”

Governor Eric Holcomb’s Office released the following statement after his address:

“As we continue to isolate if you test positive, quarantine if you’re a close contact, and get vaccinated when you’re eligible, the light at the end of the tunnel becomes brighter and brighter,” Gov. Holcomb said. “It’s up to each and every one of us to do our part to stay on our course.”

Indiana’s current cases, positivity rate, hospitalizations, and deaths have all dropped drastically since mid-January and nearly a million Hoosiers are fully vaccinated. The state plans to open vaccine eligibility to all Hoosiers 16 years and older on Wednesday, March 31, provided Indiana receives a large increase in the amount of vaccine as outlined by the federal government. Additional mass vaccination clinics will be scheduled for April and the state will implement a large employer vaccination program.

Starting April 6, decisions about venue capacity and social gatherings will be made by local officials. Customers in restaurants, bars and nightclubs will no longer be required by the state to be seated. Six feet of spacing between tables and other seating will still be recommended as is spacing between non-household parties.

The statewide face covering mandate will become a mask advisory on April 6. Face coverings will remain mandatory in all state buildings and facilities and in all vaccination and COVID testing sites until further notice. K-12 schools will continue under current requirements through the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. 

“When I visit my favorite restaurant or conduct a public event, I will continue to wear a mask,” Gov. Holcomb said. “It is the right thing to do. Hoosiers who take these recommended precautions will help us get to what I hope is the tail end of this pandemic.”

Local governments, private businesses and other entities may institute more stringent guidelines. The Indiana Department of Health will continue to provide county level, color coded metrics to provide easy to understand information about whether virus levels are increasing or decreasing locally.

The state public health emergency will be renewed for another 30 days, beginning April 1. This declaration allows the state to act quickly if conditions take a turn for the worse and allows the state to continue to access hundreds of millions of federal dollars to support Hoosiers recovering from the impacts of the pandemic.

Click here to read the Governor’s full remarks.