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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana Gov. Eric Holcomb says restaurants and personal-service businesses can reopen starting May 18 in Marion County, and some are preparing to do so. But Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett may have different plans.
Under Holcomb’s five-stage roadmap to reopen the state, which he announced a week ago, most counties moved to the second stage on Monday, with retailers and shopping malls opening at 50% capacity.
But the governor put Marion County on a different schedule that delayed that stage until May 11.
As for restaurants and personal service businesses, such as hair and nail salons, Holcomb’s executive order allows those to reopen at 50% capacity or by appointment only starting Monday in most counties. In Marion County, that starts May 18.
Restaurants locally and statewide have been operating on a carryout-and-delivery-only basis since Holcomb and Hogsett halted dine-in service in separate orders issued March 16 to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
But Hogsett’s countywide stay-at-home order is in effect through May 15, which puts it at odds with the state timeline. And it’s unclear what, if any changes, could take effect May 16.
Holcomb has reiterated that he supports Hogsett’s decisions, and the mayor is allowed to implement a policy that is more strict than the state plan.
“I’m not going to second guess the mayor’s decision,” Holcomb said during a press briefing this week.
But even though it’s unclear exactly when the city will enter that second phase, several restaurants and personal service providers are operating under the belief that Indianapolis will be on track with the state plan by May 18.
Restaurants, including St. Elmo’s Steak House, Kilroy’s Bar & Grill and Coaches Tavern have already announced plans to reopen on that date.
Holcomb said during his press briefing on Thursday that Marion County restaurants can offer dine-in services starting on that date, but Hogsett’s administration isn’t willing to confirm that yet.
When asked about Holcomb’s comments, Hogsett’s spokesperson, Taylor Schaffer, said “the earliest there could be a change in the current set of orders would be May 16.”
But a change in the current set of orders does not necessarily mean restrictions will be lifted then. Hogsett could extend the stay-at-home order or lift some restrictions but not others, including those on restaurants.
“I’d encourage businesses to focus on where they fall in the phasing and begin planning for what safely reopening looks like within those parameters,” Schaffer said in an email to IBJ. “A timeline (i.e. how many weeks between phases, etc.) will then help to provide a calendar for moving forward.”
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Is Hogsett even alive, or is he hiding in his ivory tower. He sure is not speaking to the people about anything. I know it is tough on him because he can’t show up and smile for a photo op, but even then is comments are so basic and mundane if he did say something worthwhile no one would hear him.
Joe the people elected you to lead from the front not from behind.
The bigger issue and challenge for our State, regarding this pandemic, is that we do not have the equivalent of a Dr. Anthony Fauci, i.e someone with expertise that has nothing to do with any government agency. Personally, the State should get a panel of medical experts from around the country to provide and unbiased, apolitical assessment of the State regarding the medical issues relating to the pandemic. As a State, public health has never been a priority. One only needs to see how the State ranks on any major health issue. Indiana has ALWAYS been near the bottom. We need outside experts because our one lame research medical school does not have the expertise to provide adequate medical advise on how to handle this pandemic for the State. It is no wonder that the are conflicting major public health messages. Since the pandemic is not going away and things will not magically get better any time soon, the State should at least arm the public with enough personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves and hand sanitizer so everyone can have a fighting chance to protect themselves from exposure. The mantra, that should be hammered home to every citizen of our State, is social distancing and PPE 24 hours a day by ALL of our civic leaders. So far, political policies have been inadequate and piecemeal at best. Have the State at least arm the public with better advice and resources since a lot of the time the citizens of Indiana are on our own!!! EVERYONE PLEASE STAY SAFE.