Porter County Public Health Officer Recommendations

The Porter County Health Department strongly recommends the continued wear of face coverings in public indoor spaces, including business and retail establishments, gyms and exercise facilities, places of worship, event venues, and governmental offices. The health department also continues to recommend those establishments encourage social distancing among their patrons and employees through visual reminders and signage. Furthermore, the practice of staying home when ill and getting tested at any concern of Covid-19 infection is of utmost importance in the fight against Covid-19 transmission.

 The reasons for the recommendation of continued public health measures are as follows:

1. The coronavirus continues to spread through our community.
2. More transmissible variants of coronavirus are now spreading in Indiana and Porter County.
3. An alarming increase in coronavirus cases is currently occurring in Michigan, in close proximity to Porter County.
4. At this time, under 25% of Porter County residents have received the covid19 vaccine.

 Activities are safer if at least 6 feet of space is maintained from others and are held outdoors or where ventilation is good.

 Because youth under the age of 16 are not able to receive the coronavirus vaccine at this time, schools must operate under the Governor’s updated Executive Order 21-09. School event plans will continue to be submitted to the health department for approval.

 The Porter County Health Department and the Indiana Department of Health are working diligently in partnership with federal and other local entities to make coronavirus vaccine available to every Porter County resident in a timely manner. Our hope is to have most residents vaccinated by the end of May or June 2021. If a third surge can be prevented in the intervening time, the risk of large numbers of additional hospitalizations and deaths can also be prevented. Preventing transmission also decreases opportunities for variants to develop and propagate. 

 We understand that great sacrifices have been made in the past year, physically, emotionally, and economically. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Please join us in continuing effective public health measures for the next 2 months. The health department will continue to monitor the situation in Porter County and make additional recommendations or restrictions as necessary. Please contact the Porter County Health Department with questions or for clarification.