Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb is reinstating some restrictions to help curb the surge in COVID-19 cases.
All hospitals are required to postpone or reschedule all non-emergency inpatient surgeries from December 16th – January 3rd.
Governor Holcomb is also capping the number of people allowed at social gatherings based on the county metrics map. Social gatherings are limited to 25 people for counties in red, 50 people for counties shaded in orange, 100 people for counties in yellow, and 250 people for counties shaded in blue. Local health departments are not allowed to make exemptions.
Sports and other extracurricular events for K-12 schools in counties shaded in orange are limited to 25% capacity and only family members are allowed to attend in counties in the red.
College and pro sports can still have up to 25% capacity in attendance with local health department approval.
Indiana State Department of Health Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lindsey Weaver, also announced that a Food and Drug Administration subcommittee is expected to approve the use of the Pfizer vaccine on Thursday.
Dr. Weaver says the first round of vaccines should start arriving at hospitals next week.
The first vaccines will be shipped to five hospitals around the state: Clark Memorial in Jeffersonville, Deaconess in Evansville, IU Health Methodist in Indianapolis, Community Hospital in Munster, and Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Health care workers and long-term care facilities will be the first in line to receive the vaccine.
CVS and Walgreens will help distribute these vaccines at long-term care facilities.
