Governor Eric Holcomb plans to lift the statewide mask mandate and remaining COVID-19 business restrictions in two weeks. It will become a mask advisory, meaning local governments and businesses still have the authority to implement their own mask rules. Holcomb still recommends wearing a mask even after the mandate is done.
He said in a Tuesday evening speech that the state’s steep declines in coronavirus hospitalization and deaths rates along with the growing number of people fully vaccinated justify the steps starting April 6.
Holcomb said local officials would still have the authority to impose tougher restrictions in response to COVID-19 cases in their communities and that face mask use would still be required in K-12 schools for rest of this school year. But some health experts worry it is premature to lift the statewide restrictions.
Vaccines open up to all adults the end of the month
Along with the lifting of mask restrictions, the COVID vaccine is going to be available to all adults in the state at the end of the month.
Governor Holcomb said that beginning March 31st, Hoosiers ages 16 and older can begin to schedule an appointment for the vaccine. The state has been gradually dropping the age by five years on average every week to two weeks, but the response comes ahead of a request by President Joe Biden who recently asked states to make the vaccine available to all adults by May 1st.
For more information, head to ourshot.in.gov or call the state hotline at 2-1-1. You can also contact the Bowen Center vaccine hotline at 574-347-4256, which is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 7 PM.
