INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced Thursday new steps to protect the public from the coronavirus outbreak.

“This is a time when we must do all we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19, protect our most vulnerable populations and reduce their potential to acquire or spread this virus,” said Gov. Holcomb in a statement to News 8. “While some actions are drastic, now, not later, is the time to act.”

• READ: Gov. Holcomb issues full letter and workforce guidelines in response to coronavirus outbreak

The governor laid out the following actions he initiated Thursday:

• The governor is asking that non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people. This includes any event or gathering of people who are in one room or a single space at the same time, such as cafeterias, churches, stadiums, meeting and conference rooms, auditoriums and the like. This guidance applies to professional, social, community and similar other gatherings. Detailed guidance will be posted on the Indiana State Department of Health website by the end of the day.
• Effective immediately, school corporations will be provided with a 20-day waiver of the required 180 instructional days for use as needed for the remainder of the academic year. The waived days do not need to be used consecutively and can be leveraged as needed.
• Child care and adult day care facilities should institute social distancing and minimize large gatherings. Temporary suspension of operations should be done in consultation with the Family and Social Services and ISDH in the instance of documented community spread.
• Nursing facilities and hospitals should restrict and screen visitors. Any individual who is allowed to visit is restricted to the patient’s room. 
• The Indiana Department of Correction has suspended visitation at all facilities as a precaution for the health and safety of IDOC staff and offenders.
• Individuals over 60 years of age or those with a known underlying health issue such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease should limit their public exposure. Whenever possible, friends and family should arrange to provide food and other essential items.
• Those who run senior centers and congregate meal services should consider suspending congregate meals services and arrange for home delivery
• Encourage businesses to utilize telework policies, if available

During a press conference Thursday afternoon, Mayor Hogsett announced all Marion County schools would be closed until April 5.

“Since last Friday we have remained in constant communication with the CDC and the Indiana State Department of Health anticipating that guidance could change as to how we can best protect the residents of Marion County from this emerging and evolving public threat,” Mayor Hogsett said. “Today we have received new guidance and we are prepared to act with immediate effect.”

READ: Mayor Hogsett issues all Marion County public, charter schools to close through April 5

The announcement comes after more cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in central Indiana Thursday morning.

No deaths have occurred in Indiana.

ISDH says a total of 64 people have been tested.

County-by-county breakdown of positive cases:

• Adams – 1
• Boone – 1
• Hendricks – 2
• Howard – 1
• Johnson – 3
• Marion – 2
• Noble – 1
• St. Joseph – 1

Indiana coronavirus timeline

Coronavirus links