(INDIANAPOLIS) — The order keeping Indianapolis churches closed for two more weeks has the support of Governor Holcomb.
Holcomb’s loosening of coronavirus restrictions still bans gatherings of more than 25 people, but it
exempts houses of worship, starting Friday. A full lockdown remains in place in Indiana’s two largest
counties, Marion and Lake, for an additional week. But Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has extended a local lockdown three days beyond that, long enough to preempt another round of Sunday services.
Holcomb says he won’t second-guess Hogsett or any other mayor taking extra precautions. He says the fight against the coronavirus pandemic has to be a collaborative one, with the state partnering with the federal government on one hand and local governments on the other. He says mayors should do what they believe is right for their communities. He singles out Hogsett and Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton, who’s keeping a lockdown in place through May 15, as examples.
Holcomb says he’d still prefer houses of worship stick to livestream and drive-thru services. But he says rather than resume large gatherings all at once, the importance of faith to Hoosiers “physical and spiritual health” makes religious services a logical starting point to see how things go.
Holcomb’s order still calls on churches to observe social distancing guidelines during services, keeping
every other pew empty and maintaining distance between worshipers. And he recommends senior citizens and those with underlying health conditions continue to stay home.
