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Marion County continues to lag surrounding counties and the state in the percentage of residents getting vaccinated for COVID-19, prompting local officials on Wednesday to make another public appeal for residents to get their shots.
Just over one-third of the county’s population, 35%, had been fully vaccinated as of noon Tuesday. Mayor Joe Hogsett said his goal is to boost that to 50% by July 4.
When the county reaches the 50% rate, Hogsett said he may be in a position to lift further restrictions on mask mandates, social distancing and capacity restrictions at restaurants, gyms, dance studios and other venues.
“I know how fatigued everyone is with these restrictions,” Hogsett said. “So I can’t encourage enough coming forward, getting the vaccine so that Marion County can be in a position to return to a full sense of normalcy.”
Statewide, 36% of the population has been fully vaccinated. But some surrounding counties have much higher rates, including Hamilton (59.9%), Boone (59.2%), Hendricks (58.8%) and Hancock (56.8%).
Hogsett said Marion County has seen “promising results” in its COVID-19 statistics, with the numbers of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths falling in recent months, as more people get vaccinated.
“The vaccines are a life-saving resource that need to be as widely available as possible,” Hogsett said. “Even now, our city continues to see deaths as a result of the COVID-19 virus. And we need to eliminate—we are morally obligated—to eliminate that altogether.”
Meanwhile, the Marion County Public Health Department is preparing a new public health order that would allow public pools to open at 100% this summer, and for golf courses, museums and dance studios to operate at 75% capacity.
Those guidelines are in accordance with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Dr. Virginia Caine, director and medical officer of the Marion County Department of Public Health.
“The CDC is not aware of any scientific reports that COVID-19 can spread through water at treated aquatic venues,” Caine said.
The City-County Council will consider the order at its meeting on Monday. The proposal, as previously announced, would also lift mask mandates for all fully vaccinated people.
The order would also allow 100% capacity for religious services and funerals, 50% for indoor sporting events, and 75% for bars, restaurants and entertainment venues. Appointments would no longer required for personal services, although social distancing will be recommended.
Hogsett also outlined additional steps the city and county are taking to get more people vaccinated.
The county is offering three walk-in clinics for people aged 12-17. The initial one is Wednesday (today) from 4 to 8 p.m. at North Central High School. The next two are at Arsenal Technical High School on June 12 and Warren Central High School on June 19.
The city will offer an all-day multilingual vaccination hotline beginning on Saturday. Bilingual volunteers will staff the nine-language hotline, available in Arabic, Burmese, English, French, Hakha Chin, Mandarin, Spanish, Swahili and Yoruba. People from across Indiana can call (317) 327-2100 on Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for help getting an appointment.
Caine said her goal was to allow for full capacity at Indianapolis Colts games this fall, “but that depends on this community, and how quickly they respond” to getting vaccinated.
Hogsett said that as the vaccination rate increases, he looks forward to workers returning to offices and downtown retailers seeing a bump in business.
“We know the vaccine is having a positive impact in a wide variety of context,” Hogsett said. “That is why we are not letting up at all in the vaccine effort.”
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Here’s a better idea. Why doesn’t Hogsett and his stooge doctor just leave people alone and open up.
Hogsett is the perfect example of leading from behind. I am more likely to be shot in Indianapolis than I am to be afflicted with the COVID-19 virus.
Says a lot about the folks that live in Indy now.
Have any of these “folks” read the newly released emails from Dr. Fauci? Here’s the news. The masks don’t work they never did and Dr, Fauci knew it. He lied about the origin of the virus and everything we are being told is now tainted. See it on the “real news” tonight on Tucker.
Neil D.- You are right. Freedom of Information Act download… Even now the truth is starting to filter out to the general public. This is really not news, as reports of the double-standard Fauci information hit last year early under lockdowns.
lol, masks work to not spread the virus…. they do not work to stop contracting the virus.
You mean Tucket Carlson, the rich kid who has had everything handed to him?
Also, not a single e-mail states what you posted… stop believing the clickbait headlines and actually read something you sheep
Tucker Carlson. LOL
“Real news”. Yea, no. Fox/CNN/WaPo(that IBJ occasionally regurgitates) is not “news”. They are entertainers pandering to their fan base.
End this madness – accept that a lot of people are not going to get vaccinated and let them live with the consequences of their decision. This is ridiculous.
Because everyone who contracts the virus stands the chance of causing a mutation (better term than variant) — specifically, one which might be capable of infecting those of us who had the sense to get vaccinated.
I was looking at worldwide CDC numbers last night and was shocked to see that only 3% of the worlds population has been vaccinated. Sure seems like we are fighting a losing battle with something that’s going to make the rounds seasonally from now on just like the flu. Like the flu you can encourage the vaccine, but other than that you leave people alone. It’s time to end this lockdown nonsense.
Why can’t they restate what the headline is in the email drop into the article, IBJ writing is obtuse at best. No where in the article does it state that if you are vaccinated you don’t have to wear a mask in Marion County on June 7th. But in the email headline that’s what it states….so frustrating when you are trying to find answers and make decisions for your staff that works in Marion County!!
Please read again. From the article:
The City-County Council will consider the order (on swimming pools and golf courses) at its meeting on Monday. The proposal, as previously announced, would also lift mask mandates for all fully vaccinated people.
I’m guessing that the non-vaccinated are a bunch of citizens that voted the Cartoon Mayor in — he should be able to get them vaccinated.
Exactly. After 18 months of evil Republicans killing grandma, the donut county’s have vax rates in the 50% range and the Democrat utopia is lagging. Come on Pothole. Grab your stooge dr, your buddy Andre, and get the clowns that vote for you to get vaccinated.
I stopped wearing the mask completely, I’m vaccinated. The CDC says I don’t need to wear it. Mayor Hogsbreath is a complete joke. This is all political posturing.
Follow the science! …. er uh…
**checks notes**
Two more weeks!
The outdoor stuff really doesn’t make sense. The CDC came out several weeks ago and said there is little chance getting it outdoors. Marion County is really suffering because of the capacity limits, the shutdowns and the mask mandates (even if you have been vaccinated). They will pay the price for a long time to come. This doesn’t even account for the huge spike in crime. #followthescience
Pothole Joe!! I can’t drive south of 96th street without damaging my ride. C’mon man.