A Summary of Indiana's Reopening and Return to Work Calendar

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced the Getting Indiana Back on Track program on May 1, 2020, to outline a plan to start reopening the state and its businesses.

Local communities are permitted to provide more restrictive rules than those set forth in the governor’s program. In addition, in Lake, Cass and Marion Counties, the timelines may be later in some categories as indicated. 

In addition, the Marion County Public Health Department’s Public Health Order 5-2020 augments Indiana’s re-opening program in Marion County in certain areas where it is more restrictive. Marion County’s order remains in effect through May 15. This order has particular impacts on stores, travel, and in-person work.

Good hygiene and frequent hand washing, along with social distancing, continue to be strongly recommended across the board.

The following is a categorical summary of the reopening dates contained in the governor’s program:

• Amusement parks (including water parks): May open at 50 percent capacity on June 14; reservations are to be required to limit the number of customers at any one time. Then, may open at full capacity on July 4, subject to social distancing.

• Bars (that offer food services): Until May 11 (May 18 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 25 for Cass County), may offer carryout, curbside and delivery services. Beginning May 11 (May 18 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 25 for Cass County), may open at 50 percent capacity, under specified conditions. Beginning July 4, may operate at full capacity.

• Bars (that do not offer food service) and nightclubs: May open at 50 percent capacity on June 14, with social distancing. Beginning on July 4, bars and nightclubs may operate at full capacity.

• Beaches (including shorelines): May open starting May 11 (May 18 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 25 for Cass County), subject to social gathering policy and social distancing guidelines

• BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) branches: Approximately 50 percent of branches opened on May 4 with services by appointment only; remaining branches to open by May 18

• Boating: Permitted starting May 11 (May 18 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 25 for Cass County), subject to social distancing guidelines

• Campgrounds (except for permanent RV and cabin residents): May open on May 24 with social distancing and sanitary precautions

• Camps (overnight camps and day camps): Still to be determined based on CDC guidance

• Casinos: Still closed pending further guidance

• Colleges and universities: May be open for purposes of facilitating distance learning, performing critical research, or performing essential functions, subject to maintaining social distancing to the extent possible; enhanced cleaning required upon reopening

• Conventions: May resume on July 4

• Elderly and those with high-risk health conditions: Until May 24, those 65 and over, and those with high-risk health conditions, should remain at home as much as possible. Beginning May 24, such persons should limit exposure at work and in their communities. Beginning June 14, such persons should remain cautious at work and in their communities, while adhering to social distancing.

• Elective medical procedures: Permitted as of April 27; only one person may accompany a patient for such procedures, until further guidance is provided

• Entertainment and cultural venues (including bowling alleys, museums, zoos, aquariums, and similar facilities, but not including sports events, fairs, festivals and parades): May open on June 14 at 50 percent capacity; full opening is subject to further guidance

• Essential businesses (including essential manufacturing, construction, infrastructure, government, healthcare, and other critical businesses and operations): May be open, as outlined in the Governor’s Executive Order 20-22

• Face coverings for general public: Face coverings for the public are recommended in public settings until June 14, and are optional beginning on June 14. 

• Golf courses: Open.

• Graduation ceremonies: The Indiana Department of Education will establish guidelines in consultation with the Indiana Department of Health regarding all high school, trade school, college and other graduation ceremonies.

• Gyms, fitness centers, community centers and similar facilities: May open on May 24 with restrictions, including spacing restrictions, cleaning requirements and requirements that employees wear face coverings. Beginning on July 4, these restrictions will be lifted.

• Libraries: As of May 4 (May 11 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 18 for Cass County), permitted to be open according to their own policies and in accordance with CDC guidelines.

• Local government operations (cities, towns, counties, etc.): As of May 4 (May 11 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 18 for Cass County), may make decisions for themselves based on their own policies and guidelines.

• Malls (shopping malls): 

• As of May 4 (May 11 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 18 for Cass County), may open at 50 percent capacity. Beginning May 24, malls may move to 75 percent capacity while maintaining social distancing. Beginning June 14, malls may operate at full capacity, while keeping social distancing guidelines in place. 

• Indoor common areas of malls (such as food courts and sitting areas) may open at 25 percent capacity as of May 4 (May 11 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 18 for Cass County) until July 4, and then may move to full capacity, with social distancing guidelines in place. 

• Manufacturers, industrial operations, and other infrastructure that has not been in operation: May open on May 4 (May 11 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 18 for Cass County) following OSHA and CDC guidelines.

• Movie theatres: May open on May 24 at 50 percent capacity. Full opening is subject to further guidance.

• Nursing homes and assisted living facilities: No visitation allowed, pending further guidance.

• Personal service businesses (such as hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, spas and tattoo parlors): May open beginning May 11 (May 18 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 25 for Cass County) by appointment only and subject to specified conditions, e.g., spacing of workstations, requiring employees to wear face coverings, and requiring customers to wear face coverings, if possible. Beginning July 4, may open at full capacity.

• Playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, amusement parks, tourist sites, water parks and social clubs: May open on May 24, with social distancing required. 

• Religious services: Beginning May 8, inside services, such as weddings, funerals and baptisms are permitted. Note that more complete details are available in the Revised Guidelines for Places of Worship, including specified recommendations regarding those 65 and older and those with high-risk health conditions.

• Restaurants: Until May 11 (May 18 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 25 for Cass County), may offer carryout, curbside and delivery service; then, beginning May 11 (May 18 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 25 for Cass County), may operate at 50 percent capacity until June 14, subject to specified conditions, including keeping bar seating closed, no live entertainment, and requiring servers and kitchen staff to wear face coverings. Then, those entities may operate at 75 percent capacity beginning June 14. Bar seating in restaurants may open at 50 percent capacity on June 14 through July 3. Then beginning July 4, restaurants may operate at full capacity.

• School buildings, facilities and grounds (K-12): May be open for purposes of facilitating distance learning or performing essential functions, subject to social distancing requirements, with requirement for enhanced cleaning. School buildings remain closed and all activities remain cancelled through at least June 30, subject to certain limited Executive Order exceptions. Timing of full operations will be determined at a later date.

• Senior living and adult day care facilities: May open on May 31, though subject to possible delay in starting date.

• Social gatherings (e.g., parties, receptions, weddings, Mother’s Day gatherings): Limited to 10 persons until May 4 (May 11 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 18 for Cass County), subject to social distancing. Beginning on May 4 (May 11 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 18 for Cass County), limited to 25 people, subject to social distancing, until May 24; then, beginning May 24, limited to 100 people until June 14, subject to social distancing; then, beginning June 14, limited to 250 people until July 4, subject to social distancing. Beginning on July 4, size will not be limited but will be subject to social distancing. 

• Sports events, fairs, festivals and parades (e.g., large events): May resume July 4

• Sports leagues (recreational sports leagues) and tournaments: May resume June 14

• State government (access to state government buildings): Continued operations with restrictions on public access to buildings until June 14 and then unlimited access after; social distancing guidelines will apply.

• State government executive branch offices: On May 11 (May 18 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 25 for Cass County), offices will begin providing limited public services, and employees will begin to return to work in small waves. Social distancing guidelines will apply.

• State parks: Open

• Stores and retail and commercial businesses (nonessential, such as clothing stores, furniture stores, jewelry stores, and liquor stores that have been operating as curbside delivery only): As of May 4 (May 11 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 18 for Cass County), may open at 50 percent capacity. On May 24, may open at 75 percent capacity. Beginning on June 14, may open at full capacity with social distancing. Beginning on July 4, may operate at full capacity. 

• Stores (essential retail providing necessities of life, including grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, building materials stores): As of May 4 (May 11 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 18 for Cass County), may open at 50 percent capacity, in accordance with Governor’s Executive Order 20-22. On May 24, may open at 75 percent capacity. Beginning on June 14, may open at full capacity with social distancing. Beginning on July 4, may operate at full capacity. 

• Swimming pools (community pools): May open on May 24, subject to CDC guidance

• Travel: As of May 4 (May 11 for Lake and Marion Counties; May 18 for Cass County), all local travel (including nonessential travel) is permitted. Those age 65 and over, and those with high-risk health conditions, are encouraged to remain at home when possible. Effective May 24, no travel restrictions will remain in effect. 

• Work (including office work): Office workers (and other workers) are encouraged to continue to work  remotely, where possible, until July 4. As of May 4 (May 11 for Lake and Marion Counties and May 18 for Cass County), these workers may return to offices in small waves until June 14. Beginning on June 14, professional office building employees may resume work at full capacity. 

For more information, contact the Barnes & Thornburg attorney with whom you work or Thomas Pitman at 317-231-6420 or thomas.pitman@btlaw.com.

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