Not Business as Usual for ‘Foreseeable Future’
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAs Indiana looks to get back to work, Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger says to expect a restart that will be done in phases, with a priority on keeping Hoosiers safe. According to Schellinger, Governor Eric Holcomb and a recently-announced post pandemic team are considering three key questions as they formulate a reopening strategy.
“How do we open safe, how do we open in the right stages, and third, how do we open to the new normal, because we will not do business the way we have done business for the foreseeable future.”
Schellinger discussed efforts to reopen the economy and the pandemic’s impact on economic development on this weekend’s edition of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.
Schellinger says another factor that will be considered is the amount of Personal Protective Equipment, items like masks, gowns, gloves and goggles that remain in high demand.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation says so far, it has secured commitments for more than 6.3 million pieces of PPE, with just under half of that sourced by 18 Hoosier manufacturers.
Schellinger also says decisions on restarting the economy will include a regional approach, with input from Midwest governors.
On April 17, a partnership was announced among the governors of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kentucky and Illinois to work together to limit the economic impact of the coronavirus and reopen “in a way that prioritizes our workers’ health.”