(A) The Board of Commissioners do hereby:
(1) Declare that a public health emergency exists in the county due to Covid-19;
(2) Order that Jennings County implement an advisory travel recommendation.
(B) Until further notice, only critical essential businesses shall remain open. All other, non-essential, businesses shall remain closed, including all county government offices not specifically listed below as "essential." But also see division (E) below.
(C) Critical essential businesses to remain open, include, but are not limited to:
(1) Essential county government offices, including the following:
(a) Jennings County Sheriffs Department;
(b) Jennings County 911;
(c) Jennings County EMS;
(d) Jennings County Highway Department;
(e) Jennings County Courts allowing only for operations as ordered by the Indiana Supreme Court in its March 19, 2020 and April 24, 2020 Orders on Jennings County AR 17 Petition, attached to Ordinance 2020-06 and incorporated herein by reference;
(f) All other county offices will be reopened for employees to return to work operating at normal work hours. The county offices will be open to the public by APPOINTMENT ONLY.
(2) Grocery stores;
(3) Funeral homes;
(4) All health care service providers, including doctor offices, hospitals, pharmacies and therapy establishments;
(5) Banks, lending institutions and all other related businesses;
(6) Gas stations and auto repair businesses;
(7) Convenience stores;
(8) "Dollar" stores;
(9) Day care facilities;
(10) Restaurants and bars-carry-out, delivery and drive-up only;
(11) Utility and trash services;
(12) Airport;
(13) Postal services/Fed Ex and UPS;
(14) Veterinarian clinics;
(15) Home improvement/hardware;
(16) Hotels/motels;
(17) Laundromats;
(18) Public and private transportation;
(19) Agricultural operations; pet stores;
(20) Legal services;
(21) Social service agencies.
(D) There should be no public gatherings of more than ten people and all county residents are to attempt at all possible times to maintain a social distance of six feet or more from others. The ten-person restriction does not apply to work places so long as the social distancing guidelines are followed and internal safeguards are put into place with regard to cleaning, i.e. disinfecting and sanitizing, and social distancing.
(E) Jennings County shall "reopen" in accordance with the same procedures and timelines as ordered by Governor Eric Holcomb in his Executive Order 20-26 for the State of Indiana.
(F) This is an ongoing and evolving public health crisis. Refusal to comply may result in suspension of permits as well as fines by Order of the County Health Department and the County Health Officer under I.C. 16-20-1-19 and 16-20-1-21.
(G) The Board of Commissioners acknowledge the hardship and sacrifice that is being imposed on the businesses and citizens of the county by these closures. These restrictions will be revisited as the Covid-19 circumstances change, and are subject to revision as deemed appropriate for the health and well-being of county citizens.
(Ord. 2020-02, passed 3-22-2020; Ord. 2020-03, passed 4-2-20200; Ord. 2020-04, passed 4-16-2020; Ord. 2020-05, passed 5-1-2020; Ord. 2020-06, passed 5-8-2020)