The Metro-East Region that includes Clinton, Washington, and Bond counties will go back under tighter mitigations Wednesday as the region was over an 8-percent positivity rate for COVID-19 for a third straight day on Sunday. The rate is now at 8.2-percent.

Mitigation measures take effect October 28 in Region 4 and include indoor dining and bar service being halted and indoor gatherings will be restricted to fewer than 25 people.

Bars

  • No indoor service
  • All outside bar service closes at 11 p.m.
  • All bar patrons should be seated at tables outside
  • No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
  • Tables should be 6 feet apart
  • No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
  • No dancing or standing indoors
  • Reservations required for each party
  • No seating of multiple parties at one table

Restaurants

  • No indoor dining or bar service
  • All outdoor dining closes at 11 p.m.
  • Outside dining tables should be 6 feet apart
  • No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
  • Reservations required for each party
  • No seating of multiple parties at one table
  • Meetings, Social Events, Gatherings
  • Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25 percent of overall room capacity
  • No party buses
  • Gaming and Casinos close at 11 p.m., are limited to 25 percent capacity, and follow mitigations for bars and restaurants, if applicable

These mitigations do not currently apply to schools.

The move comes just days after the Southern Region 5 that includes Marion and Jefferson counties was placed under the same stricter mitigations due to its continued positivity rate over 8 percent.