Indiana has entered a new phase of county-based restrictions after positivity rates saw a drop as vaccination rates grew.

Governor Eric Holcomb announced during last week’s coronavirus briefing a new executive order would be signed Sunday. It’s based on Indiana’s color-coded county advisory levels.

The executive order will be in effect until February 28 and strongly recommends social gatherings and events be limited based on a county’s color-coded metric.

Red counties can have up to 25 people present, orange can have 50 people, yellow can have 100 people and blue can have up to 250 people at a gathering.

Governor Holcomb also said that the state will be adding to a capacity limit instead of a total attendees limit.

Overall attendance at social gatherings or events will be based on the county’s color-coded metric.

Red and orange may not exceed 25% of the facility’s capacity, yellow counties may not exceed 50% of the facility’s capacity and blue counties may reach 100% of the facility’s capacity.

Despite the changes, Holcomb stressed Hoosiers need to continue to physically distance while wearing face coverings.

For safety reasons, a section of popular Canyon Road at Clifty Falls State Park will convert to one-way traffic only starting Feb. 8.

The section of Canyon Road that will change runs from the T intersection of Tunnel Falls to the T intersection at the park’s nature center.

With the change, only southbound traffic will be allowed on that stretch.

The rest of Canyon Road will continue to be two-way. 

The scenic road attracts large numbers of hikers, joggers, road walkers, and bike riders. 

More than half of the park’s trailheads are on Canyon Road, and the parking lots by those trailheads fill up every weekend, complicating staff efforts when they need to make rescues and recoveries from some of park’s rugged trails.

“By making this section one-way, we can add a pedestrian/bike lane to that stretch,” said property manager Brad Walker.

“Although the change will take some getting used to for driving, it will be an overall improvement of our guests’ experience and make the park a safer place.”