Approval isn't needed if your party list is 25 or less

Get approval from the health department before making party plans for more than 25 guests

Contributed By:The 411 News

Because Lake County’s color is red on the Indiana State Dept. of Health’s color-coded county map, it has the highest level of restrictions defined in Governor Eric Holcomb’s latest executive order pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic.

In the matter of public safety and health, the executive order is intended to govern peoples’ social interactions at work and play whether the virus spread is low, medium or high. And it authorizes local municipalities to implement greater restrictions.

The order governs social gatherings indoors and outdoors, in private residences, in rental facilities, and public spaces. In counties that are red, like Lake County, social gatherings are limited to 25 people. For orange counties, the limit is 50. For yellow counties, the limit is 100 individuals. Blue counties may have up to a total 250.

To exceed the limit, approval in advance is needed from the local health department.

According to the executive order, a safety plan must be submitted to the health department and receive approval from the health department before proceeding.

Venue owners, hosts and/or organizers of a social gathering or event who are required to develop a written safety plan must outline the steps to be taken to mitigate against COVID-19. Each safety plan must address the following issues:

Guest Information: identifying the appropriate information to be provided to guests to stay home if sick or part of a vulnerable population, engage in social distancing, increase handwashing, etc;

Staff & Volunteer Screening: identifying measures to be taken to appropriately screen staff and volunteers for COVID-19 symptoms;

Social Distancing Measures: identifying measures to be employed to ensure attendees engage in social distancing such as use of multiple entrances, designated seating, one-way flow of attendees, ground markings, distance between seating/tables, etc;

Increased Sanitation: outlining steps to be taken to ensure the event space is appropriately cleaned and sanitized, that high touch areas have increased cleaning, and that additional handwashing or hand sanitizing is available;

Face Coverings: identifying face coverings will be required and the measures to be taken to ensure coverings are worn; and

Compliance: identifying the number of persons, event staff or volunteers who will be available and sufficient to monitor and ensure compliance with the approved plan and other Executive Order directives.

Hosts of gatherings in Gary and East Chicago should submit safety plans to those cities local health departments. Outside those cities, hosts can submit safety plans to the Lake County Health Dept. in Crown Point.

Story Posted:11/27/2020