Gary Mayor Jerome Prince

Mayor Prince issues COVID-19 update for Thanksgiving Holiday

Contributed By:The 411 News

For the Thanksgiving Holiday and until further notice, Gary's Mayor Jerome Prince is asking the public to be extra cautious.

At Monday's coronavirus update from the City of Gary, Mayor Prince announced he was implementing additional COVID-19 guidelines because "We are seeing huge numbers of Gary residents getting sick and dying from this virus. Lake County is red. We are at the highest level of restrictions."

The mayor was referring to Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb's latest executive order and the Indiana State Dept. of Health's guidelines pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic.

At a time when families are coming together for the holiday season, Gary is recording an average of 50-plus coronavirus cases per day and its virus death rate is higher than the national average.

Everyone must wear a mask or face covering when indoors and in public buildings.

Churches are allowed to have services for up to 50 people. All in attendance must wear a mask and practice the 6-feet apart social distancing rule for non-household members.

Social gatherings in rental facilities and in private residences are limited to 25 people. For more than 25 people at a gathering, approval in advance is needed from the Gary Health Dept. The event giver must provide a social distancing safety plan.

Restaurants and retail businesses must post occupancy numbers at every entrance. These businesses are allowed to operate at 75% capacity. All employees must wear masks.

Mayor Prince said he met with numerous owners of bars, nightclubs, and social clubs Friday. A midnight closing hour and operating at 50% capacity are their new coronavirus orders. "This is a big week for them. I asked they make public safety their top priority," the mayor said. These businesses must also post occupancy numbers at every entrance.

If owners don't comply, they will face fines and citations up to $2,500. Non-compliance after the first citation, operators will face citations and fines up to $7,500 each. The mayor said the businesses will be monitored by the city's building, health and police departments.

Gary's Health Commissioner Dr. Roland Walker gave a new dimension on the city's response to COVID-19.

"Our death rate from the virus here in Gary is higher than the world death rate of 2.5%. We are at 3.6%. The American fatality rate is 2.1%. At one time Gary was at 4.1." Underlying health conditions play a role in those numbers, Walker said, "but we want the death rate to continue to come down."

Walker said Gary had posted 74 new cases the day before and the city's rolling 7-day average was at 56 per day.

"I am begging you to keep your gatherings small," Dr. Walker said. He urged residents to use the phone, Facebook and Zoom meetings to communicate during Thanksgiving.

"These are difficult times especially during holidays but it will be far more difficult to console relatives when you have lost loved ones due to COVID," Mayor Prince said.

Lake County reported 3,237 new virus infections between November 16 and November 22.

Story Posted:11/24/2020