Effective immediately all Washington County buildings will be closed to the public, according to Washington County Auditor Kyra Stephenson.
The vast majority of Indiana counties are in higher-risk categories for COVID-19 spread, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
A look at the ISDH’s coronavirus map shows 87 of Indiana’s 92 counties are in the orange or red categories. Only five counties are in the yellow category, and zero are considered blue.
“Due to the increase in COVID cases the Washington County Health Department and Washington County Commissioners have made the decision to close all county buildings to the public,” Stephenson wrote in a message.
“This decision was made in the best interest of the county employees as well as the community,” Stephenson noted.
According to the release, all county employees will be reporting to work as scheduled.
If anyone needs assistance please call each office and county employees will do their best to take care of the needs over the phone.
The number of Covid-19 cases have been on the rise over the past few weeks – nearly doubling each week around the state.
Washington County is now designated as an “Orange” county, with Red the highest concentration of Covid-19 cases.
There were 155 new Covid-19 cases reported in Washington County in October and 71 cases so far in the first two weeks of November.
Gov. Eric Holcomb yesterday moved away from the Stage 5 designation on Indiana’s Back on Track program and instead initiated the following new guidelines for counties in “Orange” and “Red” status.
Orange (moderate to high community spread)
- Grade schools continue in-person; strong recommendation for hybrid learning for middle and high school students
- No assemblies or large group activities
- Strong recommendation to limit extra-curricular activities and have competitors and participants only, with no in-person attendees
- Discussions with parents about limiting social events outside of school
- County education leaders work with local health department to consider implementing aggressive prevention efforts in schools and communities
Red (high community spread)
- Grade schools remain in-person or consider hybrid learning; middle and high school students consider virtual learning
- No assemblies or large group activities
- Extracurricular activities canceled
- Discourage social events
- County education leaders work with local health department to consider implementing aggressive prevention efforts in schools and communities.
Eastern High School and East Washington Middle School moved to online-only education today with the elementary school moving to virtual classes on Monday, Nov. 16.
They plan to return to in-person education after Thanksgiving break.
