Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, left, and South Bend Regional Chamber CEO Jeff Rea discuss business and economy issues Friday at a Chamber luncheon at The Armory in South Bend. Staff photo by Jeff Parrott
SOUTH BEND — Despite worsening coronavirus numbers in Indiana’s northern and southwestern border counties, which are helping to drive statewide numbers in the wrong direction, Gov. Eric Holcomb isn’t considering reinstating restrictions he lifted two weeks ago, he said during a visit here Friday.
While noting he doesn’t make longterm predictions “based on a virus that is uber-infectious and easy to spread,” for now he’ll continue urging Hoosiers to wear masks and hope they comply.
“We need to make sure that we keep our economy up and running and do it safely, and we’ll continue to get that word out,” Holcomb said as he took questions from reporters outside The Armory, where he’d just addressed South Bend Regional Chamber members on a range of business and economic issues. “But what I’m pleading and begging and asking Hoosiers all over the state is to do what works. Do what was working before when we were alarmed.”
The Chamber invites the governor for the chats every year or so. This event had initially been set for March but had been postponed because of the pandemic. With Chamber CEO Jeff Rea asking the governor questions on stage, the chats typically draw about 400 luncheon guests seated eight to 10 per round table. But to allow more physical distancing, guests were limited to 110, with four people per table and a livestream for those who couldn’t get in, Rea said.
Guests were asked to put their masks back on between eating and when Holcomb entered the room, and the governor greeted people with fist and elbow bumps instead of handshakes.
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