INDIANAPOLIS (WLFI) — Gov. Eric Holcomb announced on Wednesday Indiana will advance to Stage 5 of the Back on Track Indiana plan for reopening. Holcomb also announced during the bi-weekly press conference on COVID-19 that the state's mask mandate will continue through at least mid-October.

Stage 5, which includes no size limitations on gatherings and meetings, is scheduled to take effect Saturday morning. The mask mandate and social distancing will remain in place.

Holcomb said those restrictions could be removed because the state has seen progress in recent weeks in slowing the coronavirus spread. His action lifts statewide capacity limits for restaurants and bars and crowd limits for social events.

The mask order was first issued two months ago and has drawn ire among conservatives who believe his executive orders in response to the pandemic have gone too far. 

This story continues to develop and we will have updates as they are available.