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2020/08/17 - Mayor's Column: New IDPH Mitigation Guidelines

­“An Open Door to O’Fallon”
A Weekly Note from Mayor Herb Roach
­­­

We want to inform you of the recent mitigation measures that have been enacted by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to curb the spread of COVID-19 in our region. The positive test rate for our Region has reached 8.4%, which exceeds the state’s maximum positivity rate threshold of 8%.  Due to this, the State of Illinois has mandated new restrictions for our region.

These restrictions begin on August 18, 2020 and will stay in place until our positivity rate drops below 6.5%.  Since the beginning of this pandemic, we have worked with both county and state officials and health departments to keep our community safe from this virus and keep our businesses operating to the maximum limits allowed.

Region 4 mitigation measures take effect August 18, 2020, and include the following:

  • Meetings, social events, and other gatherings are now limited to the lesser of 25 individuals or 25% of overall room capacity. This includes funerals and events at places of worship other than service of worship, or Sabbath.
  • All bars, restaurants, gaming facilities, and casinos will close at 11 pm, matching the newly imposed closing times for St. Louis.
  • Party buses are not allowed to operate.
  • Reservations are required for each party at restaurants and bars, and no congregating indoors or outdoors. If seating is done without a reservation, you must keep a log of the name and phone number of one member of the party just as you will for reservations on a daily basis.  This will be used for tracing if someone tests positive for COVID-19.
  • Indoor tables reduced to six people or less.
  • Tables should be placed six feet apart.
  • No dancing indoors.
  • Removal of bar stools at bars to help prevent congregating, and no individuals or groups standing at bar or other areas waiting.
  • Masks should be worn by employees.
  • Masks should be worn by customers going to their tables and when leaving.

Capacity at restaurants will be determined by the number of tables that can be accommodating following the guidelines above.

Further details of the IDPH guidelines can be found at https://dceocovid19resources.com/assets/Restore-Illinois/Resurgence-Migitations-Region-4.pdf.

Our county, like the rest of the state, made strides to lower the positivity rate but unfortunately, the confirmed cases of COVID-19 are now rising each day in our region. We ask that you help us control the spread of this virus by following and encouraging your fellow residents, friends, and family members to follow these mitigation measures.

We want to get out of these additional restrictions as soon as possible, but we need everyone’s cooperation.  Since these restrictions are only for our seven-county area, we have also been told that the State Police, Gaming Board and the State Liquor Commission may be checking on facilities for their compliance.  We do not want to see any local business be accused of violating these requirements, causing the spread of the virus or having their State Gambling or Liquor License pulled.

We thank you for your help during these unprecedented times.  We also know that all these requirements and restrictions are not easy for the businesses and residents of O’Fallon.  We will get through this together.  If you have any questions concerning these new requirements, please contact Grant Litteken, Assistant City Administrator at [email protected].

As residents of O’Fallon, you should always be able to reach out to your elected officials and ask questions about what is happening in O’Fallon. Having open communications is important to me and something I care very deeply about. Thank you for reading, and please remember, my door is always open (virtually, at least)!