.@IndyMayorJoe opens #coronavirus briefing with blast at Indianapolis Speedrome and other businesses who ignored virus guidance over the weekend: "We've spent months clawing our way to where we are" in fighting the virus. "To see people squandering that is painful."
Hogsett on "irresponsible voices" insisting the #pandemic is exaggerated or imagined: "Their selfishness is an insult to the 3,000 families" in Indiana who have lost loved ones to the virus since March.
.@Marion_Health director Virginia Caine says MCHD will step up enforcement of #MaskUp order and social distancing requirements. Hogsett says, "The time for warnings is over."
Caine: "We feel like we're starting to go in the right direction" on positivity rate. Rate jumped from 5% in late June to 7-day average of 9.2% last week. But yesterday's numbers were 5.7%. Caine says county is averaging about 7 fewer cases per day while increasing tests.
Caine: ER visits with #COVID19 symptoms began declining a couple of weeks ago; averaging about 18 a day. Hospitalizations started declining a week ago. Both still above the late-June low. County averaging one death per day.
Marion County is still in Caine's "yellow zone" for positivity rate on #schoolreopening, meaning middle and high schools are to run hybrid online/in-person classes. She'll order those schools to close if rate climbs to 11%, and close elementary schools too at 13%.
19 Indiana counties have positivity rates above 10%. Six of those are above 13%.
Caine: in April, 1st full month of #pandemic, 34% of Marion County cases were over 60; 2% under 20. Now it's 12% under 20, 14% over 60, and half in their 20s and 30s.
Caine: no more warnings on #MaskUp violations. If investigation confirms complaints, businesses will be fined $1,000, as Speedrome was.
Marion County bars and nightclubs remain closed; restaurants remain at half capacity. Restaurants which only allow patrons over 21 (i.e., bars which serve food) capped at 25%, with no bar service.
New: while @IHSAA1 sports can go forward, Marion County will cap attendance at 250 people.
6-foot distancing required in stands for fans who aren't from the same household. Masks required as well.
Caine: fines could be higher than $1,000 for egregious or repeat violations. Until now, the county had investigated 407 complaints and issued just 2 citations.
Caine: "egregious" violations raise the possibility of pursuing license revocation as well.
Caine: @Marion_Health trying to reduce 48-to-72-hour lag in getting #COVID test results. They're looking at purchasing new machines that could deliver results in 24 hours.
Maximum allowable fine is $1,500 per day.
Caine: 10-to-20 @Marion_Health inspectors have been tasked with enforcing #MaskUp order; there's room to increase that.
Hogsett says he's staying out of brewing #INLegis debate over whether schools will lose funding if they operate primarily online; "I'm sure that will be resolved." He credits @GovHolcomb with committing to not penalizing schools for following health recommendations.
Caine: "We're very comfortable with giving the green light for (high school) #football to start." There will be weekly reporting of any positive #COVID tests among players or coaches.
Paul Babcock with city public health and safety office; while individuals are potentially subject to fines as well for #MaskUp violations, primary focus is on businesses, which he says can serve as a "force multiplier" to get compliance.
New @StateHealthIN figures show Marion County with a 9.4% positivity rate in tests returned yesterday, with a 7-day rolling average of 9.3%.
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