Indiana Creates New Criteria on ‘Essential’ Retail

Joseph Herrens is Gov. Eric Holcomb's general counsel.

The state of Indiana has established new criteria in determining which retail operations are considered “essential” regarding the stay-at-home executive order.

The parameters were laid out Monday during Governor Eric Holcomb’s daily COVID-19 briefing.

“We’ve created a category that allows them to continue operating under new conditions and restrictions,” said Joseph Herrens, general counsel for the governor.

Herrens says businesses that provide “necessities of life,” such as grocery stores and pharmacies may continue to operate as they have been. That means customers are still allowed to go inside the store, shop, pay and leave.

The new category involves retailers that do not offer the so-called necessities of life. The state says they can still operate, but customers are not allowed inside. Those businesses include bookstores, florists, beauty supply stores, fabric stores, and craft stores.

“The way they would have an opportunity to continue in business is through online ordering. It is through call-in service, for curbside pickup and delivery,” explained Herrens. “Those are the two categories that we’ve created that we believe will provide greater clarity and understanding.”

While the stay at home order chiefly continues as is, the governor says modifications and restrictions have been made to limit interactions among people.

• Retail businesses that provide necessities of life may remain open but should limit the number of customers in the establishment at any given time; implement hours for elderly and other vulnerable populations, as well as limit hours of operation to restock and clean; and comply with all mitigation measures to protect employees and the public. A list of such businesses is included in the executive order.
• All other retail businesses may remain open if they restrict sales to online or call-in ordering with delivery or curbside pickup.
• Professional services should be conducted virtually or by telephone.

Click here to view the executive order, in which the governor officially extended the stay-at-home order to April 20.

The governor’s executive order also includes the closing of state park campgrounds. While the parks remain open, camping is not allowed.

“We had those opened with good intentions in mind, but it was never meant for our state park campgrounds,” said Holcomb.

To watch the governor’s full briefing from Monday, click on the video below.