Indy Council Approves Loosening COVID Restrictions

(photo courtesy of our partners at WFYI)

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The Indianapolis City-County Council has approved a public health order loosening COVID-19 restrictions across Marion County. Mayor Joe Hogsett last month detailed the changes, which include lifting the mask mandate for people who are fully vaccinated, with certain exceptions.

The Marion County Public Health Department says the new order will become effective at midnight.

Under the order, masks will still be required for everyone at certain locations, including medical settings, airports and on public transportation. Businesses and property operators will be allowed to enforce mask requirements if they wish.

The order also loosens capacity restrictions for certain venues. They include:

• Religious services and funerals will go from 75% capacity to 100%.
• Indoor service in bars and restaurants will rise to 75%.
• Personal services businesses will no longer need to go by appointment, but must maintain six feet of social distancing for non-vaccinated clients.
• Indoor sports or other large events will increase to 50% capacity.
• Entertainment and cultural venues will increase to 75% capacity.
• Large gatherings will move from a maximum of 50 people to 500 people.

“I am pleased that my Council colleagues voted tonight to pass Proposal 153, which marks an unprecedented investment in improvements to residential streets across our entire city,” said Council President Vop Osili. “I want to thank DPW Director Dan Parker not only for undertaking this initiative but for working with the Council to ensure these resources are allocated equitably among the 25 Council Districts as we seek to address quality of life issues for all Indianapolis residents.”

The MCPDH says it will recommend a full reopening to the council when the county reaches a fully vaccinated rate of 50% of residents and is seeing fewer than 100 new cases per day. Officials hope to reach the milestone by July 4.