Health officials urge use of masks as some resrictions eased

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana health leaders say the wearing of face masks will be as important as ever to stem the coronavirus spread, even as most of the statewide restrictions imposed by the governor are lifted as of Saturday.

The new executive order from Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb continues the mask mandate that has angered some conservatives around the state who maintain they won’t support his reelection over it.

Holcomb’s order removes the 75% capacity limit for restaurants and the 50% limit that bars, movie theaters and other entertainment venues faced. But they must continue maintaining at least 6 feet between unrelated patrons, which could diminish capacity in many of those businesses.

Limits on crowd sizes for social gatherings and meetings are being removed, but those who organize events with more than 500 people must submit a written safety plan to health officials.

The executive order dubs the regulations as the “new normal during a global pandemic.”

“We want to continue doing those things and protect against the spread of this virus,” Holcomb said in announcing the changes Wednesday.

Health officials on Friday added 18 more COVID-19 deaths to the state’s toll. The newly recorded deaths raise the state’s death toll during the pandemic to 3,566, including confirmed and presumed coronavirus cases, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. That is an increase of 71 deaths in the past week.

Leaders of the Indiana State Medical Association and Indiana Hospital Association said they agreed with the governor’s move to further ease the statewide restrictions for the first time since early July. They cited factors such as a decline in the positivity rate for COVID-19 deaths and the improved capacity of hospitals to care for...