Health Dept. asks for voluntary closure of certain businesses
The Dubois County Health Department issued a clarification on the earlier request for non-essential businesses to close.
“The reason we are asking for voluntary closure is done with the intention of providing social distancing (at least six feet away from other people) and limiting gatherings to fewer than 10 people. Some businesses have accomplished this by curb-side delivery, direction/markers on floors, signs on front doors, call ahead, and limiting the number of customers inside at a single time. If retail stores cannot devise measures to maintain social distancing (at least six (6) feet away from other people) and limiting social gatherings to fewer than ten (10), then it would be strongly encouraged to close at this time.”
For more clarifications, business owner’s can call the Dubois County Health Department at 812.481.7050 for additional guidance.
COVID-19 is spreading in the State of Indiana and everyone needs to do their part to help prevent its spread. The better we do at preventing the spread, the less impact it will have on us long-term. These measures are critical to reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the community. As long as the community continues to work with us, we will make an impact. This department intends to be proactive, not reactive to the ongoing public health pandemic.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dubois County Health Department is asking all non-essential businesses to close.
The department continues to develop strategies to help prevent the spread within our community.
Some of these strategies include limiting community interaction in close quarters situations. By nature, many business operations require close person to person contact. In an effort to limit close person to person contact the organization is asking for voluntary closure of the following as soon as possible:
- All non-essential retail businesses including, but not limited to, nail salons, spas, cosmetology/barber shops, liquor stores, body art/tattoo establishments, tanning salons, massage and acupuncture establishments, electronic stores, department stores, hobby/craft stores, automotive dealerships, furniture stores, clothing stores, retail stores, and any other in-person retail businesses.
- This does not prohibit the operation of essential retail business. Essential retail businesses include but not necessarily limited to health care facilities, pharmacies, facilities that sell food products, gas stations, auto repair shops, including automotive dealership repair operations, factories, hardware stores, telecommunications stores, and other essential retail.
- This does not prohibit the operation of a drive-thru, take-out, curbside, and delivery services, provided that social distancing of at least six feet away from other people and limiting gatherings to fewer than 10 people.
The Dubois County Health Department understands this will have an impact on the community and encourages all retail businesses that can close to do so. COVID-19 is spreading in the State of Indiana and everyone needs to do their part to help prevent its spread. The better we do at preventing the spread, the less impact it will have on us long-term.
These measures are critical to reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the community. As long as the community continues to work with us, we will make an impact.
This department intends to be proactive, not reactive to the ongoing public health pandemic.
I don’t understand why the big wheels of a company are able to work at home so they don’t come in contact with COVID-19 but the peons that work in the factory have to report to work…….. Doesn’t make any sense to me. We are very much at risk of this disease.
Agree, and nor to me, at least the basic aspect of your concern about factories/factory employees. The “big wheels” work from home because they can – it’s that simple. Why they continue to allow their “peon” employees to work counter to the recommendations is indeed the bigger question. Factories are listed (on some lists but not others) as essential even though they produce products that are not considered “essential” (furniture, cabinets, et al), and therefore continue to allow multiples of employees even in the hundreds to work in close proximity, seems to run counter to what the health department and all health authorities are trying to temporarily minimize/eliminate. Did the factory not address this with employees either directly or through some sort of a written memo? Maybe you should ask them and see what they say – it’s a fair question.
What about daycares how can they stay open no social distancing their
It could be argued that without daycare, certain workers could not go to work, kids would not eat/be fed, etc – but a flimsy argument under the circumstances. Yes – again the list seems to defy common sense if indeed the priority is really for the health/welfare of people. Seems to be a list compiled by those BIG wheels with connections and extended connections who simply can because they can, because of who they are, etc., in order to keep THEIR factories and businesses operating. Understand, I personally think it’s all too much, too far, etc., no matter, as applied for our rural areas and communities – a knee-jerk panicdemic over-reaction – but it is what it is, and if it’s going to be administered with fairness and consistency/continuity for the reasons stated, then ALL non-essential work/business needs to be included…not just the barbers and retail shops and small businesses, et al. For wood and furniture factories – even an auto parts factory and others similarly non-essential with hundreds of employees working, eating, making other close contact for hours side-by-side – makes little/no sense if not rather very BAD/wrong sense.