Indiana governor announces closure of restaurants and bars to dine-in customers

By: Shannon Nolan Facebook | Twitter
Posted: Mar 16, 2020 11:17 AM EDT | Updated: Mar 16, 2020 11:27 AM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb on Monday announced that bars, nightclubs, and restaurants will be required to close to dine-in customers.

Dining establishments will still be able to provide take-out and delivery services through the end of March.

The governor’s office said the restriction is part of a larger effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Indiana's restaurant and bar restrictions come on the heels of similar actions taken by neighboring states of Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan.

Also on Monday, the governor’s office said that the state’s Emergency Operations Center has been raised to a Level 1 status.

Additional directives from Holcomb’s office include:

  • Indiana will adhere to the CDC directive for large events and mass gatherings by limiting in-person events to no more than 50 people
  • Hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers should cancel and/or postpone elective and non-urgent surgical procedures immediately
  • State employees will maximize the use of remote work and meet virtually whenever possible while maintaining operations
  • State employees over the age of 60 with underlying health conditions are advised to work from home
  • The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, which are closed on Mondays, will close to the public beginning Tuesday
  • The visitors' center at White River State Park will close
  • Indiana state parks and recreation centers, including state park inns, remain open. Restaurants will convert operations to take-out and delivery
  • The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has suspended rules requiring certain unemployment insurance claimants to physically appear at a Work One location to engage in reemployment services for the next four weeks. This will ensure that individuals who may be symptomatic do not have to physically appear to continue their unemployment insurance eligibility
  • The DWD will also request flexibility under federal and state law to expand eligibility for claimants and ease burdens on employers.
  • The Indiana Economic Development Corporation will postpone the inaugural Indiana Global Economic Summit, scheduled for April 26-28
Share this article: