State to Begin Lifting Certain Medical Restrictions
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAfter stating his intention to do so late last week, Governor Eric Holcomb has officially extended his stay at home order to May 1. As part of the updated order, the governor says the state will Tuesday begin reopening elective medical procedures in “a staged way.”
During his daily COVID-19 briefing Monday, Holcomb said the decision came after working with the Indiana Hospital Association and the state’s 10 health districts.
The governor says the first stage, which begins Tuesday, will allow hospitals to conduct clinical procedures to diagnose, screen and treat medical conditions. Then, if the state’s personal protective equipment supply holds, the state will open up elective procedures in other medical and clinical practices on April 27.
Holcomb’s office says any restrictions involving medical procedures will be evaluated every seven days to determine if any changes should be made.
Additionally, the governor clarified through the updated order that nurseries, garden centers and pet groomers are able to stay open for business, provided they limit the number of customers in their facilities in an effort to follow the CDC’s guidelines for social distancing.
“The reason that we’re able to take these steps and move forward on this front are two-fold. One is you; you are practicing, in large part, good physical distancing practices and you’re slowing the spread. You’re flattening the curve. We see this around most of the state of Indiana. Not in all places, but in most of the state of Indiana. And then also, you’re generosity; you have rushed to those areas in need.”
Holcomb also praised the state’s hospital network, which he says has experienced “remarkable collaboration.”
The state says as of Monday, 11,686 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and 569 people have died from the disease. There are now positive tests in all 92 Indiana counties.
Both Governor Holcomb and State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box responded to questions regarding recent protests against the stay at home order, in which hundreds gathered at the Indiana Statehouse.
“First of all, I respect the right for anybody to speak out and to protest but I would in this time like them to social distance and to wear masks because I am very concerned about those individuals becoming ill or, if they’re asymptomatic carriers, infecting someone else,” said Box. “So I just would like to see that done in a way that would respect the social distancing that is required.”
The governor noted the protests occurred in Marion County where about one-third of positive cases and deaths have been reported.
You can view the full daily briefing in the video below: