(INDIANAPOLIS) – Indianapolis bars and restaurants are likely to remain under capacity limits beyond the Fourth of July.
Indy has lifted its mask mandate for people who are vaccinated, but bars, restaurants, gyms and museums still have a three-quarters capacity limit until Marion County reaches a 50% vaccination rate. Mayor Joe Hogsett had predicted that would happen by Independence Day, but the county is still at 39%, more than 100,000 people short of the goal. Hogsett acknowledges it’s going to take longer than hoped.
Hogsett says he understands some people remain skittish about the vaccine. But he says he’s hopeful the prospect of getting back to normal, without masks or capacity caps, will give those people the incentive they need to get the shot.
Hogsett says the health department is focusing in particular on vaccine hesitancy in minority communities. The city recently awarded grants to 86 churches and community organizations to try to break down vaccine barriers at the neighborhood level.
Kids under 12 aren’t eligible for the vaccine, so the county would have to hit 60% of those eligible. So far, five counties have reached that level, including four of Indy’s neighbors: Hamilton, Boone, Hendricks and Hancock.
