Dubois County Health Department Issues Voluntary Closure For Many Non-Essential Businesses

DUBOIS COUNTY -- The Dubois County Health Department is calling on many non-essential businesses to close in an effort to limit person-to-person contact.  Health Officials ask this be done "as soon as possible."

Read the full release below....

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dubois County Health Department continues to develop strategies to help prevent the spread within our community.  Some of these strategies include limiting community interaction in close quarters situations.  By nature, many business operations require close person to person contact.  In an effort to limit close person to person contact we are asking for voluntary closure of the following as soon as possible:

-All non-essential retail businesses which includes, but is not limited to, nail salons, spas, cosmetology/barber shops, liquor stores, body art/tattoo establishments, tanning salons, massage and acupuncture establishments, electronic stores, department stores, hobby/craft stores, automotive dealerships, furniture stores, clothing stores, retail stores, and any other in-person retail businesses.

-This does not prohibit the operation of essential retail business.  Essential retail business includes but is not necessarily limited to health care facilities, pharmacies, facilities that sell food products, gas stations, auto repair shops, including automotive dealership repair operations, factories, hardware stores, telecommunications stores, and other essential retail. 

-This does not prohibit the operation of drive-thru, take-out, curbside, and delivery services, provided that social distancing (at least six (6) feet away from other people) and limiting gatherings to fewer than ten (10) people.

The Dubois County Health Department understands this will have an impact on the community and encourage all retail business that can close to do so.  COVID-19 is spreading in the State of Indiana and everyone needs to do their part to help prevent its spread.  The better we do at preventing the spread, the less impact it will have on us long-term.  These measures are critical to reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the community.  As long as the community continues to work with us, we will make an impact.  This department intends to be proactive, not reactive to the ongoing public health pandemic.