TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLF) – Restaurants, bars and nightclubs in Tippecanoe County will soon have a local mandate to follow. The Tippecanoe County Department of Health announced this new mandate Wednesday at its bi-weekly press conference.
Governor Eric Holcomb has made it clear that local health departments and municipalities can enforce their own rules during this pandemic. We saw this a few weeks ago when West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis created a mask mandate for the city.
This new mandate is the Tippecanoe County Health Department’s way to be proactive when Purdue students move back to the city. If the governor chooses to advance the state to stage 5 of his Back on track Indiana plan, this mandate in Tippecanoe County would replace stage 5 plans for food and beverage establishments. This is the first mandate given by the health department that has the potential to contradict the state’s orders.
From Friday 14 August, all restaurants will operate with a capacity of 75%. All bars and clubs will trade at 50% capacity. There will be only table top service, and no bar top service. All dance floors will be closed, and all restaurants, bars and clubs will close at midnight. This also includes establishments that do not serve alcohol and 24-hour drive through services offered at some fast food restaurants.
The catalyst for this mandate is Purdue students returning to West Lafayette. County County Officer Dr. However, Jeremy Adler said it is important that the rules are the same for everyone in the province, regardless of location.
“To be honest, it has to be applied to every restaurant and bar in the province,” he said. “Purdue students can easily go to a restaurant or bar in the province and are not just patronizing restaurants and bars that are off campus.”
West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis and Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski both expressed their support.
“It’s the right thing to do for the right reasons at the right time,” said Mayor Dennis. “I could not be more enthusiastic about it and I could not support it enthusiastically.”
“I think it’s a good step and we just have to keep looking at the numbers and be able to make decisions and make decisions,” said Mayor Roswarski.
There is currently no expiration date for this mandate. Dr Adler said they check data every day to make adjustments.
Dr. Adler also explained the enforcement and punishment portion of this mandate. Institutions that override the order on their first offense will receive a written warning, a fine for the second offense, and will revoke their license as a third.
Purdue University spokesman Tim Doty also sent News 18 a statement of support on behalf of the university.
“We support the Tippecanoe County Health Department’s updated guidelines for current bars and establishments. Like Mayor Dennis’ mask mandate, Dr. Adler’s order can play a major role in limiting the incidence of COVID-19. virus and enabling our community to move back to full economic and social life as soon as possible. “
