INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb is limiting all non-essential gatherings in the state of Indiana to 250 people, effective immediately.

This includes any gathering of people in a professional, social, community or other event.

“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,” Holcomb said, via a release. “While some actions are drastic, now, not later, is the time to act.”

Holcomb also announced the following actions:

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.

Schools should follow the guidelines for non-essential gatherings as they make decisions about non-essential extra-curricular or co-curricular activities.

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

State employees are also suspended from all non-essential out-of-state and international travel for the next 45 days.

“I fully expect there will be additional actions warranted in the coming days,” Holcomb said via a release. “Just as we have since the beginning of the year, we are working with partners at all levels to secure all necessary resources for any escalation of this virus.”

This story will be updated.