The city of Columbus is closing most city buildings to the public for at least two weeks as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge in the community.
The closures, which start Monday and run through Nov. 29, include Columbus City Hall, Columbus Police Department office building, animal care building, Donner Center, utilities building, fire stations, Hamilton Center and the Department of Public Works Building, the city said in a statement on Friday.
City meetings will be held virtually and live-streamed via WebEx until at least December, including November meetings for the Columbus City Council, Board of Public Works, City Utility Board, Human Rights Commission, Redevelopment Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals.
City business will continue and employees will continue to work and answer phones and emails, and will meet with members of the public by appointment only. City parks will remain open and buses will continue to run as normal.
City officials will monitor community spread of the virus and revisit the decision toward the end of the month.
“This move is to protect employees’ health and safety, as well as for members of the public,” the city said in a statement.
The announcement came as hospitalizations continue to soar statewide, including in Bartholomew County, where state health officials reported an additional 83 Bartholomew County residents tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, raising the total for November to 578 cases.
By comparison, Bartholomew County recorded nearly 1,600 cases from March to October, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
There were 2,548 people hospitalized in Indiana with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, more than triple the 759 hospitalizations on Sept. 21, according state figures.
Locally, Columbus Regional Hospital saw record high hospitalizations earlier this week, reaching 38 on Wednesday, up from 11 hospitalizations on Oct. 28, the hospital said.
Two Bartholomew County residents have died from the virus this month, according to state figures.
Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop is urging residents to “take the virus seriously” and follow public health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Indiana State Department of Health.
“Masks, social distancing, good hygiene and avoiding crowds and groups is key to protecting the community’s health and economy,” the city said in a statement.
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Visit columbus.in.gov for more information about the closures.
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