By Victoria Ratliff
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—Starting Wednesday, small businesses that haven’t been able to buy personal protective equipment for their employees will be able to get it from the state.

Indiana is opening a “PPE Marketplace” that will provide bundles of masks, gowns, and hand sanitizers to business and nonprofit organizations. To qualify for the bundles, which are free, the businesses must be registered in Indiana, have fewer than 150 employees, must need the equipment as part of a reopening plan, and be a retail store, restaurant, personal services provider, or an office.

“We encourage everyone to continue to try and source PPE from traditional providers, and use the marketplace as a secondary source,” said Luke Bosso, chief of staff for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

Bosso, announcing the program at Gov. Eric Holcomb’s daily virtual press conference, said currently only 10,000 orders will be able to be fulfilled, as the state continues to focus on directing PPE to frontline workers. They plan to replenish the marketplace stock, and those unable to get the equipment in the first round will be in line to receive it when more become available.

Under the phased-in plan outlined by Holcomb, Indiana is reopening businesses even though the numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise.

The state reported 541 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing the total of confirmed cases to 21,033. There were an additional 62 deaths, with the total toll now at 1,213. An additional 113 people are believed to have died from the virus based on their symptoms.

The White House had advised states to avoid reopening until a downward trajectory is seen over 14 days — a standard Indiana has not yet met. And the number of people tested remains low. Only 2,550 Hoosiers were tested Tuesday, with a total of 115,834 of Indiana’s 6.8 million residents tested so far.

Pressed on whether it’s wise to be the hardest-hit state to start reopening so far, Holcomb said he spoke to Vice President Mike Pence — Holcomb’s predecessor as governor — Monday evening.

“He said he’s seen a lot of plans to reopen throughout the country and he’s seen none better than ours,” Holcomb said. “He commented on how thorough it was, how thoughtful, how it projected out, how we’re able to adapt to the facts on the ground… He held it up, actually, as a model.”

That drew a rebuke from Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane, D-Anderson.

“Did I hear right that the governor said Vice President Pence commended Indiana’s plan to reopen as the best in the country?” Lanane said in a statement released after Holcomb’s briefing. “How can Indiana have the best plan to reopen when this so-called plan doesn’t even meet the standards set up by the President and Vice President themselves?”

Leanne noted that Indiana reportedly has the highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita among the states that are re-opening their economies. “It is irresponsible that our state and federal leadership seems to be all over the board on this and is succumbing to the emotional demands of a distinct minority to rush to reopen, instead of following a true-safety first approach.”

Holcomb said the state, in making its re-opening plans, is monitoring hospitalization rates, the availability of intensive care unit beds and ventilators, and emergency medical runs. If the numbers change, he said, “we will reassess.”

One key to stopping the spread of the virus is testing and then tracing the contacts of people who test positive. Dr. Lindsay Weaver, chief medical officer for the State Department of Health, said the state now has 120 testing sites open with plans to open 30 more next week.

“Our job is to make sure we have the capacity level high to allow that any Hoosier, if they’re sick or if they’re in close contact with somebody who is sick, has the ability to go and get that done,” Weaver said.

Under Holcomb’s plan, the first round of businesses was allowed to open their doors Monday, with more to follow in the coming weeks.

Restaurants, which can open at 50% capacity May 11, are preparing to reopen safely and adapt to the new guidelines.

Patrick Tamm, president and chief executive officer of the Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association, said Hoosiers should expect changes when they return to restaurants, including contactless menus, one-time-use condiments, and distanced tables or booths.

“We’re looking forward to doing the right thing, but also with the Hoosier hospitality promise, making sure what our guests know to expect, and what our team members are to expect,” he said.

Still, Tamm said while restaurants are looking forward to reopening, any Hoosier who feels sick or has been around someone who has felt sick should stay home and order delivery.

“Let us continue to serve you, but we cannot allow you to come into our restaurants during this time,” he said. “It’s absolutely critical with regards to our employees, our teammates, and also our fellow Hoosiers and the traveling public.”

FOOTNOTE: Victoria Ratliff is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.