Coronavirus forcing low key inaugural for Indiana governor

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The start of Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb's second term in January won't include any large public celebrations because of coronavirus concerns, the head of the state Republican Party said Friday.

Holcomb won a landslide reelection this month for another four years in office. The Republican governor entered office in 2017 with an inaugural ball at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in downtown Indianapolis and an inauguration ceremony attended by about 2,000 people at the state fairgrounds coliseum.

'œWhile we'd love to celebrate our historic victories together to usher in the second term of Governor Holcomb, the time just isn't right to do so,'ť state Republican Chairman Kyle Hupfer said in a statement. 'œIt remains our full intent to appropriately celebrate the governor's reelection with the entire team that made it possible when circumstances allow.'ť

Indiana has faced steep increases in COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths over the past two months and Holcomb has imposed crowd size limits across the state aimed at slowing the coronavirus spread.

Holcomb and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch will legally take their oaths of office at some point before their new terms begin Jan. 11.