May 13, 2021 / 05:24 PM EST
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) Until more people get vaccinated and the City-County Council acts, Marion County will keep its mask mandate despite new federal direction that masks are no longer needed by vaccinated people indoors or outdoors.
The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday issued the new direction. During a COVID-19 task force meeting at the White House, Dr. Rochelle Walensky called the change in mask restriction an “exciting and powerful moment.” She said the science supports the updated CDC guidance that “anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities large or small without wearing a mask or physical distancing.”
Marion County Public Health will hold two COVID-19 vaccine clinics this week.
A first dose Moderna clinic will be held Thursday, May 13th from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the department’s office in Knoxville. Those who live or work in Marion County and are at least 18 years old are eligible. Appointments must be scheduled online.
A second dose clinic will be held Friday, May 14th, also at the department’s office. Those eligible for this clinic should have received appointment times at their previous dose. Others who live or work in Marion County who need a second dose may also call the department to schedule an appointment for this day.
Indianapolis keeps mask mandate, business health restrictions despite new legislation Amelia Pak-Harvey, Indianapolis Star
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Indianapolis city officials moved quickly to keep the current Marion County public health orders in place Monday night, just hours after legislators voted to void all local coronavirus restrictions.
The new legislation, Senate Bill 5, requires local health departments to get approval from the local legislative bodies and mayors if a city seeks to enact health orders that are more strict than statewide restrictions.
The health board or health officer also cannot file a court action to enforce a health order unless it receives approval from the legislative body, such as the City-County Council.
Republicans opposed the measure in a party-line vote.
Councilor Josh Bain, who initially pushed for a repeal of the mask mandate last year, argued that the council should be the body to create the guidelines. All we are doing here is shifting all of our responsibility over to the county health department, Bain said. I think what we should do here is we should have timelines on the guidelines that we are passing.
But Democrats voiced support for following public health experts, including Dr. Virginia Caine, the director of the Marion County Public Health Department. The council is made up of some amazingly smart individuals with very diverse backgrounds and expertise, said Democratic majority leader Maggie Lewis. However, when I check our current roster there are no medical doctors that serve on the Indianapolis City-County Council. Therefore, I think it s up to us a leaders of this community to get behind Dr. Caine.
Marion County Public Health has announced its COVID-19 vaccine clinics for this week.
A first dose Moderna clinic will be held Thursday, May 13th from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the department’s office in Knoxville. Those who live or work in Marion County and are at least 18 years old are eligible. Appointments must be scheduled online.
A second dose clinic will be held Friday, May 14th, also at the department’s office. Those eligible for this clinic should have received appointment times at their previous dose. Others who live or work in Marion County who need a second dose may also call the department to schedule an appointment for this day.