Frustration was evident as Evansville officials announced new restrictions following a visit by Indiana health officials concerned about the dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases in the area.
Without giving any names at a news conference Friday, Vanderburgh County Health Dpartment officials rattled off a list of local spreader events that show up as COVID-19 clusters on the state’s regional reporting. Among them, high school sports events, funerals, a worship center, and proving that the virus doesn’t discriminate, a country club and a bowling alley.
Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke announced an executive order that will go into effect on October 19th to force any groups wanting to hold an event with more than 125 people to take more direct action to prevent spreading COVID-19.
“We’re not trying to shut people down. We’re trying to say listen, these numbers are dramatic, and here’s something you can do to help.”
Winnecke says the reason the 125 person limit is important is because that is the most people whose connections can be followed closely through contact tracing if the event results in a COVID-19 cluster.
