The Pike County Health Department received notification from the ISDH that Pike County will be “red” on the new map.
Under “red” designation:
*It is strongly encouraged that social gatherings be cancelled or postponed. However, a social gathering may have up to a total of 25 individuals, provided social distancing requirements can be achieved and maintained, face coverings worn, and other sanitation measures are implemented at the site where the gathering occurs.
If a social gathering of over 25 cannot be cancelled or postponed, the host of the gathering must submit a safety plan to the local health department and receive approval from the local health department before proceeding.
*Businesses should reduce the number of employees and personnel permitted to congregate in common areas or break rooms and should take additional measures to ensure social distancing is achieved in these areas.
*Restaurants and retail businesses are strongly encouraged to promote phone/online ordering with curbside pick-up.
*Attendance at winter indoor K-12 extracurricular and co-curricular activities, including IHSAA sport events, is limited to participants, support personnel and parents/guardians. All non-competing and non-performing participants, support personnel, and attendees are required to wear face coverings.
*Community recreational sports leagues and tournaments may continue, however, attendance is limited to only participants, required personnel, and parents/guardians of minor participants or minor children of adult participants and personnel.
*Senior Center activities must be cancelled or suspended.
*Hospitals, long-term care, and other congregate settings should follow the CMS and ISDH guidelines on limiting visitation based on community metrics.
In order for our county to change to a less restrictive category (orange, yellow, or blue designation), we must meet the score of a less restrictive category for two consecutive weeks before being allowed to move to that category.
The recent rise in the number of cases is largely due to Thanksgiving gatherings. The actions that each and every resident takes over the coming weeks will directly affect where our county is on the map and the restrictions that are in place.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of staying home when you are sick and preventative measures such as wearing your mask, social distancing, proper hand hygiene, and avoiding crowds.
We would also like to remind residents to answer calls/texts from ISDH Contact Tracers. If ISDH Contact Tracers cannot get ahold of positive individuals, it falls on the local health department to try to make contact and complete those interviews. Local Health Departments have limited staff and due to rising numbers cannot keep up with the number of cases that are not answering/returning calls to ISDH.”
