VIDEO: Positive COVID-19 Cases Rise, Indiana Stays Put At Stage 4.5

Indiana will stay in Stage 4.5 of Governor Holcomb's Back on Track for at least the next two weeks.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - The Hoosier state will stay in Stage 4.5 of the Back On Track plan for at least the next two weeks.  

In a media briefing on Wednesday, Governor Holcomb and Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box addressed the fact that positive coronavirus cases are trending upward, meaning the state will not move forward to the 5th and final stage of the governor's plan to reopen Indiana.

For the second week in a row, cases are climbing. The 7-day Average Positivity Rate shows 4.2 percent as of June 18, 6.3 percent as of July 4, and is now 7.1 percent as of July 11. 

Stage 4.5 regulations include:

• Social gatherings following the CDC’s social distancing guidelines will be limited to up to 250 people. This limit applies to wedding receptions, parties, and other events where people are in close physical contact for extended periods of time, particularly indoors.
• Dining room food service may continue operations at up to 75 percent capacity as long as social distancing is observed. Bar seating in restaurants may continue operations at 50 percent capacity. Bars and nightclubs may continue operations open at 50 percent capacity as long as they adhere to social distancing guidelines.
• Cultural, entertainment and tourism sites may continue operations open at 50 percent capacity.
• Movie theaters, bowling alleys and similar facilities may continue operations open at 50 percent capacity.
• Amusement parks, water parks and similar facilities may continue operations open at 50 percent capacity. Reservations are encouraged to limit the number of customers at any one time.
• Raceways may continue operations open at 50 percent grandstand capacity.

Effective July 23, gatherings and events with more than 250 attendees will be allowed to develop and submit a written plan outlining the steps being taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to local health departments. This applies to seasonal or special events including, fairs, festivals, parades, graduations, outdoor concerts, outdoor movies (other than drive-ins), family reunions, conferences or weddings. 

Watch the full briefing below: 

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