State officials say they aren’t trying to punish bars and restaurants with stricter COVID-19 rules.

New mitigations for regions with rising cases include no indoor dining or bar service. Public Health Director Doctor Ngozi (En-Gahzi) Ezike (eh-zee-kay) says contact tracing has shown that exposure is greatest in schools, at work and at bars and restaurants.

Four of the state’s 11 designated COVID regions are now under the new mitigations until test positivity rates and hospitalizations come down.