On April 6, 2020, Governor Holcomb issued Executive Order 20-18, extending Indiana’s Stay-At-Home Order for an additional two (2) week period. The extension goes into effect on April 7, 2020 and runs through midnight on April 20, 2020. There have been no changes to health care facilities or health care employees being permitted to operate or travel for work. The extension largely mirrors the original Stay-At-Home order, a summary of which can be found here, with the following additions:
- Hoosiers are encouraged to make online or call-in orders as much as possible and limit how many household members travel to stores to make essential purchases when
- Retail businesses providing the necessities of life may remain open to the public, although such businesses should limit the number of customers in their facility at any given time, adjust hours of operation and consider implementing separate operating hours for vulnerable customers, and comply with social distancing and sanitation of applicable areas and other mitigation measures to protect employees and the public. Retail businesses providing the necessities of life include grocery stores, supermarkets, and club stores (provided they have a sizable food/grocery section, such as Costco, Meijer, and Walmart); specialty food stores; certified farmer’s markets; farm and produce stands; convenience stores and gas stations; pharmacies; auto sales, auto supply, and auto maintenance and repair businesses; farm equipment; construction equipment; bicycle shops; office supply stores; pet supply stores; and building material and hardware supply stores (e.g., Lowe’s, Menards, Home Depot).
- All other retail businesses (i.e., beauty supply stores, book shops, craft stores, florists, ) may only remain open for online or call-in ordering with delivery or curbside pickup. These retail businesses shall also comply with social distancing and sanitation of applicable areas and other mitigation measures to protect employees and the public.
- Professional services, such as legal services, accounting services, insurance services, and real estate services, including appraisal and title services, should be conducted virtually or by telephone, unless the failure to meet in-person will have a significant adverse impact on the client’s financial or legal
- Campgrounds throughout Indiana are directed to close unless a person has no other place of residence, and no overnight stays are permitted in state
- All employers, whether manufacturers, distributors, professional offices, retailers or other, are reminded they must comply with safety and health standards established and enforced by the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA). Specifically, employers are subject to standards to prevent the exposure or spread of a disease, and the General Duty Clause requires employers to provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. More from IOSHA can be found here.
The Executive Order also creates an Enforcement Response Team to investigate and respond to reports of violations of the Stay-At-Home Order, except those reports of unsafe workplace conditions under the jurisdiction of IOSHA. The Team will be led by the Chairman of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission and will be comprised of state law enforcement from agencies other than the Indiana State Police. The Team will work in conjunction with the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) and other local boards of health and will be permitted to issue verbal orders to cease unsafe practices. If the business entity fails to comply with a verbal order, ISDH shall issue an order to cease the unsafe practice; if the business entity still fails to comply, ISDH shall issue an order to close the business entity. If an order to close a business is issued, the business shall be reported to the Secretary of State and to any relevant licensing, permitting, or certifying board or commission for consideration of revocation proceedings. This Executive Order may also be enforced by state and local law enforcement.
IHCA/INCAL has developed this Essential Healthcare Personnel form for you to place your facility logo on and provide to each of your staff members so that they can have this with them while they travel for work.