The St. Joseph County Health Department is ordering all residents wear face masks in enclosed public spaces or businesses when within six feet of another person. They are also ordering all businesses to provide hand sanitizer at entrances and at any high-touch surfaces.
The orders take effect at midnight on Tuesday, May 5 and will be in effect until at least July 4.
95-3 MNC received the following release from The St. Joseph County Health Department:
As the St. Joseph County Public Health Authority, pursuant to the authority granted by lndiana Codes 16- 2O-1 et seq. and 16-41-9 et seq., in the interest of protecting all St. Joseph County residents, and reducing the spread of communicable disease, specifically the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), I order the following to take effect throughout St. Joseph County, lndiana, beginning on May 4,2020 at 11:59 p.m. and to be in effect until
July 4, 2020.
Locally, our data and public health indicators suggest on-going community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease referred to as COVID 19. The intent of this Health Order is to protect the health and safety of the residents of SJC from the morbidity and mortality caused by SARS-CoV-2. lt is anticipated that this order will remain in effect until such time as the level of immunity within the population is estimated to reach 70% of the population as determined by serological testing of a representative sample of the population of the county.
The following is hereby ordered to be in effect:
Any business establishment open to customers shall make alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol readily accessible at the entrance and in proximity to hightouch surfaces.
A face covering over one’s nose and mouth shall be required for any persons entering an enclosed public space or place of business, unless such persons have a medical exception indicating that a face covering is ill-advised for health reasons, or the face covering prevents the persons from delivering or receiving services. The face covering shall be worn at all times when physical distancing of at least six feet cannot be maintained.
This Order is, hereby, issued on May 3, 2020, pursuant to the lndiana Code provisions listed above and in a manner consistent with all statutory authority delegated to me as the St. Joseph County Public Health Authority.
The Governor of the State of lndiana has recognized local county authority to guide and monitor the residents within their counties; therefore, I will continue to monitor the health of St. Joseph County residents and will issue additional orders as necessary.
Robert M. Einterz, M.D
Health Officer
32 comments
I recommend that all St Joe County residents who don’t want to be placed on a leash shop in surrounding counties whose leaders have common sense. Those who helped elect and appoint them can follow blindly.
It’s called protecting ourselves and others. People like you are always the first to wine and cry the minute something happens to you or your family. Go back to school and take a health class. Then maybe you can understand the point of all this. You sound selfish.
Do you understand what this really means? 70% of the population needs to be immune. Tell me how long that will take under this order? The vaccine is 12 months away.
Today was the last day I shop in St Joe county. Where can you find that many masks and that much hand sanitizer? I tend to have trouble with authority and being told I have to.
Bandanas work the same way. Sometimes you do have to think outside of the box instead of just jumping to being passive aggressive.
And just where are you supposed to get bandanas? I’ve looked and can’t find any. The govenor lifted restrictions effective May 4th. The democratic mayor didn’t like that so decided to impose more restrictions. Are we now living in a communistic country where we all obey or else! Although covid 19 is real the politicians are using it as power play and making the virus much much much bigger than it really is. If they told you to jump off the bridge would you do it. This is stupid and most of it is nothing more than a hoax. You know, like the Democrats like to say, never let a good crisis go to waste (even if it is a manufactured crisis).
How about online???? I work for a place where we make supplies for PPE and my husband is a nurse. Since this has started we have had to leave our shoes at the door before even coming into the house due to our son has asthma and we care for his brother who has underlying health conditions. So you are telling me that this is the disrespect we get for us putting our selves on the line and doing everything we can to protect people like you??? So if my son or brother in law end up in the hospital because of selfish people like you I will just send you the bill. Thank you. And just for the record I am a republican. Just with more common sense than others.
Well said
If there is a small subsection of the population not healthy enough to handle the virus, then isn’t it their responsibility to quarantine themselves instead of shutting down the entire world? Even U.N. representatives & heads of charities have said that this global shutdown will likely push hundreds of millions of people over the edge into extreme poverty, malnutrution, and death. So couldn’t we say that YOU are being the selfish one by demanding a global Great Depression just because you know a couple people who *might* be affected by it?
And anyway, they’re hyping the numbers & counting deaths toward the covid-19 statistics even when there’s no proof that the virus was responsible for the health problems in question. My wife works in health care and has seen multiple elderly patients who’ve tested positive but shown no symptoms, and been just fine—now, if those people happen to die from issues they’ve already been dealing with (dementia, heart problems, etc.) then they will count toward the covid death statistics just because the virus was present. Many deaths have been counted in New York even though *no* tests for covid were given!
What’s truly scary about all this is how quickly some people will surrender all their civil rights, liberties, and common sense at the drop of a media-driven scare-mongering campaign. Don’t you see how control-freak politicians will keep & abuse these powers forever if we don’t at least question & discuss what’s really going on? Sometimes “shut up & obey” is NOT the best instinct to follow, even if you mean well by doing so.
This is completely ridiculous. What happens if you do not wear a face mask?
This is insane… in order for the population to be 70% immune… 70% of the population need to have gotten Covid-19… or a vaccine needs to be developed… How long will that take? Are we trying to protect everyone from getting something that 70% need to get in order to be set free? This will take 12 months and the people will not put up with it.
The Health Department does not have the authority to place such a mandate. The legal code referenced talks about not allowing someone to appear in court if they have a communicable disease. I will not be complying with this. Especially since it reads that it is only ordered if a 6 foot distance can not be maintained. Not going to be carrying a tape measure around with me. I will wash my hands, cover my cough with my elbow, and not be a close talker. This is not enforceable.
Amen
Wait—so if we have to wear masks until 70% of the population has immunity, then how is immunity (which is acquired by developing antibodies through exposure to the virus) going to grow & reach 70% if everyone is avoiding exposure to the virus in the first place?
Oh, that’s right—-forced needle jabs full of a hastily made & improperly tested vaccine. And if you question or complain, then you’re a terrorist who’s putting society at risk, right? What happens if you develop some strange, adverse effects afterwards? “Prove it, you crazy conspiracy theorist.”
This is how totalitarian dictatorships start, folks. The numbers have been artificially boosted, and this is a control-freak psychological operation against the public. World leaders (globalists) have been losing control of their citizens and have united with overblown scare-tactics to reign the populace back in. Remember when you could gather & protest against your leaders? Not anymore. How convenient. And they get to pretend that they’re doing all this because they care so much about you. Do you really believe that?
Bandannas have an estimated 3-5% effectiveness in preventing transmission of disease. You might as well go without. Generally, the “homemade” cloth masks have a less than 50% effectiveness in preventing disease transmission. Even N-95 masks are not perfect but with effectiveness of close to 90% they are the best mask to have as they are designed for a tighter fit with the ability to to pinch down across the bridge of the nose. Unfortunately, these are difficult for the general public to find as they need to be supplied to frontline responders dealing in close proximity to to the general public.
The troll known as “common sense” will come whip you with a wet noodle.
A six foot one
A troll because I don’t agree with you??? I am so sorry I am not a follower unlike you. I was taught to believe in what I believe in. And I would say what I believe to anyone’s face. I don’t hid behind a computer like you probably do.
Read statute 16-41-9 they have NO authority to tell anyone to wear a mask. The statute says they can quarantine someone if ordered by a court. However none of us have been summoned or asked to appear another requirement of the statute. MAGA to all my friends! I won’t be wearing a mask or using hand sanitizer.
How ironic! You will be wearing a mask at your work! That is if you are going back to your old job on the west side of South Bend. Corporate head quarters says that when that site reopens, they will comply with any local ordinances during this epidemic. This comes from the Deer Valley site and will follow suit for you in South Bend. Maybe you can get an autographed one from PHX tomorrow while he is at your plant there!
I will use hand sanitizer but not to an extreme I will wash my hands and I realize that I am not so important the the world will cease to rotate if I am not out in it and stay home if I am sick.
Where are your brains, people?? Did you lose them when you drank the kool aid? This is a respiratory virus. It is spread in peoples’ breath. The first line of defense to stop the transmission of an airborne pathogen is to block the germs coming OUT of your nose and mouth and block others’ germs from coming INTO your mouth. Hey pretty simple! Even a caveman can do it!!
If you have no respect for your health and dont care if you get sick, please have some respect for the elderly who you could transmit this to and kill. Don’t be selfish and childish- and quit throwing your tantrums!
Thank you!
Bernard our brains are right where they need to be. We actually use ours and know it is very likely this will not go away. We love President Trump and understand he must be optimistic but it is very unlikely a vaccine will be available. For instance where is the H1N1 vaccine or the HIV vaccine? Coronavirus has been around much longer than either of us and unfortunately this strain is rather deadly. You can hide as long as you like and that is your right. However, I have the same rights as you and I am not going to run and hide. Good luck hiding and enjoy wasting your time on earth!
@chris. Your comments are not germane to this topic. This is not about politics, What does mr trump have to do with this? This is about science. A vaccine certainly would be a panacea. A mask ordinance will not stop the spread of this when there is non compliance. What these measures do however, is buy us time to develop a treatment option better that the stopgap remdecivir.
Maybe you dont have family or loved ones. Perhaps you dont have elderly relatives. I love mine and am going to do everything I can to maintain their safety. sorry. Masks mitigate viral transmissions period. Sorry. not hiding and cant buy your logic.
Chris, so wanting to protect our loved ones is hiding and wasting our time??? I have a 16 year old son who is college bound and has his whole life ahead of him. He has asthma and I don’t want to see him fall deathly ill to this. I am protecting his life. That is not hiding and wasting time on earth. I think we need to all agree to disagree. You don’t want to wear a mask because you feel your freedom is being stripped. I wear one to protect my child. Don’t get me wrong I love Trump. Voted for him four years ago and will vote for him again. But he has stated that he understands where you stand and understands where I stand. Instead of being angry with each other’s points of views and opinions, we should just respect each other and how we feel about all of this. I respect your thoughts and hope you respect mine. If I came across aggressive in my other posts it is because I am passionate about my family and I would do anything for them as I am sure you feel the same for yours. I think respect goes along way and I think we can learn a great deal when this is all said and done.
[…] St. Joseph County requiring face masks in public, hand sanitizer in businesses […]
@Bernard I have family and concerned for them. However, unfortunately social distancing and mask are not having an impact on the spread of the virus. Wish those tactics helped but they just simply are not. We will all find a out in a few months the infection rate is 50x higher than we were led to believe. Fauci is full of crap! I hope you an your family stay healthy and if you get the Kung flu you let it be mild.
@ CHRIS.your conclusions are unfounded. The navy tested each sailor on the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt – all 4800. there were something like 600 that initially tested positive and of the 600 over 60% were asymptomatic. Dr Birx has made comments at the press conferences that young people tend to be more asymptomatic than older people which stands to reason since in general their immune systems are more robust. if as she contends, asymptomatic-ness decreases with age, we probably have 10-25 percent asymptomatic people in total. Who quoted you the 50x number? that is an interesting assumption.
Social distancing has its basis in public compliance and obviously from the comments here on this , there is a LOT of non compliance. So, if people are in non compliance , you cannot conclude that something works or doesnt work! To be technical, non compliance invalidates the independent variable of the experiment rendering the dependent variable useless. (see https://blog.prepscholar.com/independent-and-dependent-variables). Additionally, since there is no “control” group in this social distancing experiment , we again cannot say whether it is working or not working.
Fact is, this is a virus that is spread by breathing. If you shield the air that you breath, it should lower any viral load you come into contact with. Conversely, if you are shedding virus, a mask WORN PROPERLY should reduce the number of viral particles you are exhaling into your environment.
If there is a small subsection of the population not healthy enough to handle the virus, then isn’t it their responsibility to quarantine themselves instead of shutting down the entire world? Even U.N. representatives & heads of charities have said that this global shutdown will likely push hundreds of millions of people over the edge into extreme poverty, malnutrution, and death. So couldn’t we say that YOU are being the selfish one by demanding a global Great Depression just because you know a couple people who *might* be affected by it?
And anyway, they’re hyping the numbers & counting deaths toward the covid-19 statistics even when there’s no proof that the virus was responsible for the health problems in question. My wife works in health care and has seen multiple elderly patients who’ve tested positive but shown no symptoms, and been just fine—now, if those people happen to die from issues they’ve already been dealing with (dementia, heart problems, etc.) then they will count toward the covid death statistics just because the virus was present. Many deaths have been counted in New York even though *no* tests for covid were given!
What’s truly scary about all this is how quickly some people will surrender all their civil rights, liberties, and common sense at the drop of a media-driven scare-mongering campaign. Don’t you see how control-freak politicians will keep & abuse these powers forever if we don’t at least question & discuss what’s really going on? Sometimes “shut up & obey” is NOT the best instinct to follow, even if you mean well by doing so.
@BJ 50x is not an assumption educate yourself. There are facts out there from two counties in California and one in New York that bare out the 50x or more I was being conservative. #not wearing a mask.
Not a follower too smart for that good luck and stay home while the rest of us enjoy life #hoax!
Instead of everyone going back and forth, why don’t we just respect each other for our decisions. If you want to wear a mask do it. If you don’t then don’t. If you want to stay in, stay in. If you want to go out then go out. We can all do what we want and need to to do and still stay safe. Nobody is wrong for what they want to do or what they think or feel. Arguing like a bunch of children isn’t doing anything but making matters worth. Don’t any of you think for a second that this is what they want?? Distractions on top of distractions then putting us against each other. You can support and respect someone’s decisions even if you don’t agree with them. We don’t need to be smart asses towards each other. When we band together is when the real truth starts showing because there is no choice but for it to be shown. This isn’t making America great again. Isn’t that what we are trying to do??