Bartholomew County health officials have ordered new restrictions as COVID-19 infections continue to surge and strain local hospital resources.
Beginning Saturday, in-person dining, big-box retailers, hardware stores, as well as “essential businesses and similar services” in Bartholomew County will be restricted to 50% capacity until further notice, said Dr. Brian Niedbalski, Bartholomew County health officer.
In addition, bars, nightclubs and bar seating at restaurants will be restricted to 25% capacity, and social gatherings and events — without exception — will be limited to no more than 50 people.
Movie theaters, bowling alleys and similar indoor entertainment venues are limited to 50% capacity.
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Gyms, fitness centers, personal services and similar facilities can operate at 50% with restrictions, including daily employee screenings, mandatory face coverings. Equipment must be spaced out to comply with social distancing guidelines and must be cleaned between uses, among other measures.
Social distancing guidelines must be followed at all facilities, and businesses must calculate what their new maximum capacity is and “post that number clearly on the entry door and ensure those numbers are not exceeded and can be checked by staff and the proper authorities,” Niedbalski said in a statement.
Additionally, public schools will remain on e-learning through winter break, Jim Roberts, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. superintendent, announced on Friday.
The local COVID-19 Community Task Force said the county is at a “crucial time” and is urging people to follow public health guidance to limit the spread of the virus, including wearing masks and maintaining social distance and avoiding large gatherings.
The task force, which was formed in February, includes representatives from Columbus Regional Health, the Columbus mayor’s office, Bartholomew County Health Department, Bartholomew County Emergency Management, BCSC, Cummins Inc., among others.
“During this crucial time and surge in positivity rates in our area, residents are encouraged to take every precaution possible to limit community spread,” the task force said in a statement.
The deadly rise in COVID-19 cases across the U.S. is forcing local officials to adjust their blueprints for fighting the virus with key measures of the country’s effectiveness in managing the pandemic all heading in the wrong direction, according to The Associated Press.
Hospitalizations, deaths and cases are all skyrocketing in the U.S, and as Thanksgiving approaches, public health officials are bracing for a holiday-fueled surge that could push many healthcare systems past their tipping point, according to wire reports.
Doctors are urging families to stick to small gatherings.
The announcement from local officials came the same day that the Indiana Department of Health reported that a record 120 Bartholomew County residents had tested positive for COVID-19 the day before, pushing the total for November to a staggering 1,190 cases, compared to a total of 1,599 from March through September. On Friday, the total new positive cases was 121.
Until this month, daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Bartholomew had never exceeded 31. In November, there have been fewer than 31 daily confirmed cases only three times.
An average of nearly 1 out of every 1,000 Bartholomew County residents tested positive for COVID-19 from Nov. 11 to 18, according to the local task force.
Locally, health officials believe that indoor public gatherings are the “primary sources of transmission,” and infected individuals then “return home and spread it to every family member,” Niedbalski said.
Currently, COVID-19 hospitalizations are at record levels across Indiana, breaking records nearly every day this month.
There were 3,077 people in Indiana hospitalized with confirmed of suspected COVID-19 infections on Thursday, up more 1,300 since Nov. 1, according to state figures.
Columbus Regional Hospital also has been seeing record numbers of hospitalizations, reaching an all-time high of 52 on Tuesday and Thursday.
On Friday morning, there were 44 people hospitalized with COVID-19 at CRH, though that number could increase if more people with COVID-19 are admitted over the course of the day, hospital officials said.
Ten of the patients hospitalized at CRH on Friday morning were listed in critical condition, while the other 34 are listed in stable condition, the hospital said.
“I have a high level of concern for our health care system. Despite planning for this suspected surge of COVID-19, it is difficult for hospitals to handle the deluge of ill patients,” Niedbalski said.
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To see community metrics on COVID-19 spread, visit covid19communitytaskforce.org.
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The COVID-19 Community Task Force has launched a “Mask Up Columbus” campaign. More information is available at http://covid19communitytaskforce.org/mask-up-columbus.
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To read the notice from Bartholomew County Health Officer Brian Niedbalski, go to http://bartholomew.in.gov/emergency-management.
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