Allen County is tightening COVID-19 restrictions Wednesday, in anticipation of the state downgrading the county’s status for community spread.
According to a public health order sent Tuesday, the county’s limit on social gatherings goes down to 25, and forces gyms, restaurants and bars to operate at 50 percent capacity or less.
College and professional sporting events must submit a health safety plan to the Allen County Health Department at least seven days in advance, according to the order.
The restrictions had been reduced in late December after Allen County’s advisory status was at “orange.” County health officials anticipate the state will downgrade the status to “red” within the week.
ICU capacity in northeast Indiana is at 16.7 percent, with around 21 percent of those occupying the critical care beds are ill with COVID-19.
No area county has a 7-day positivity rate below 5 percent, which is the “safe zone” for community spread according to the World Health Organization.
Totals for northeast Indiana as of Jan. 12 are:
- Adams County: 10 new cases for 2,875 total. No new deaths for 35 total. 7-day positivity rate at 11.0%.
- Allen County: 202 new cases for 31,037 total. Six new deaths for 518 total. 7-day positivity rate at 15.5%.
- DeKalb County: 11 new cases for 3,323 total. No new deaths for 71 total. 7-day positivity rate at 18.8%.
- Huntington County: 17 new cases for 2,746 total. One new death for 56 total. 7-day positivity rate at 11.5%.
- Kosciusko County: 38 new cases for 7,669 total. No new deaths for 75 total. 7-day positivity rate at 19.9%.
- LaGrange County: Six new cases for 2,204 total. No new deaths for 61 total. 7-day positivity rate at 22.0%.
- Noble County: 19 new cases for 4,494 total. No new deaths for 56 total. 7-day positivity rate at 16.1%.
- Steuben County: 15 new cases for 2,972 total. No new deaths for 40 total. 7-day positivity rate at 23.9%.
- Wabash County: 18 new cases for 2,829 total. No new deaths for 45 total. 7-day positivity rate at 6.8%.
- Wells County: Eight new cases for 2,207 total. One new death for 46 total. 7-day positivity rate at 16.4%.
- Whitley County: 28 new cases for 2,817 total. No new deaths for 24 total. 7-day positivity rate at 21.6%.
Sources include the Indiana Department of Health and local health department statistics.
