County health department doubles outdoor event capacity limit
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May 5, 2021
A 25% capacity limit on large outdoor events will double to 50% beginning Thursday, the Marion County Public Health Department announced Wednesday.
The change is in response to Centers for Disease Control guidelines updated last week, Dr. Virginia Caine, director of the department, said at a news conference. The new recommendations say that fully vaccinated people don’t need to wear masks outdoors, except at crowded events.
Those holding large events and gatherings will need to collect contact information from attendees to help out contact tracers if there’s an outbreak, Caine said. That information will be included in the risk-mitigation plans organizers submit in advance to the health department. The department has been working with large events on this already, a spokesperson said, but Wednesday’s updated health order makes it official.
May 5, 2021 / 10:50 PM EST
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) The fight over Indiana’s cornonavirus restrictions will come to a head next week.
When the Indiana Senate and House of Representatives resume their legislative session Monday, lawmakers will discuss a potential veto override of Senate Bill 5, which bans local health officials from imposing emergency restrictions beyond the state’s.
Gov. Eric Holcomb says he vetoed that bill on Tuesday because he believes it undermines local responses to emergencies.
If lawmakers do indeed override the veto, it could cause some chaos for local leaders. For example, in Marion County, businesses legally would not have to follow the county’s mask mandate or capacity restrictions.
Indianapolis city and health officials provided a COVID-19 update Wednesday.
Marion County updated restrictions on large outdoor events to allow 50 percent capacity, in line with new CDC guidance. The move comes as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway plans to allow 40 percent capacity at this year’s 500.
Currently, 26 percent of Marion County residents are vaccinated. Marion County Public Health Department Director Dr. Virginia Caine said the shot is the way back to normalcy.
“By reducing the rate of transmission, it gives the virus less chance to mutate and turn into more variant strains, shortening the length of this pandemic,” Caine said.
Marion County is reporting the lowest number of older residents with COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, with that population having the highest percentage of vaccination.
The campaign will encourage all Hoosiers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.
Credit: Rich Van Wyk/WTHR
IMS is set to become one of the first mass vaccination clinics in Indianapolis. Author: WTHR.com staff Updated: 3:18 PM EDT May 5, 2021
SPEEDWAY, Ind. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway launched its “Got My Shot” campaign on Wednesday.
The campaign will encourage all Hoosiers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. As of Wednesday, only two million of the state s more than 6.75 million people were fully vaccinated. Got My Shot will include contributions from NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers, IMS and INDYCAR leadership, Governor Holcomb, Mayor Hogsett, Dr. Caine, community partners and more.
The announcement was made during an afternoon virtual press conference on Wednesday.
According to MCPHD director Dr. Virginia Caine, Marion County will allow 50% capacity at outdoor events, effective Thursday at 12 a.m. That includes events at sports venues and raceways.
Capacity limits for indoor events are still capped at 25%.
“Large events and gatherings will need to have contact information of their attendees to allow for contact tracing in case we have an event where positive cases are identified,” said Caine.
Caine continued to encourage Marion County residents to get a coronavirus vaccine.
“The COVID-19 vaccine, it is our route to freedom and safety,” she said.