LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — The Tippecanoe County Health Department on Tuesday issued a public health order to start on Nov. 18 with new restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19. According to the order, the measures will go into effect when the county's 7-day all tests percent positivity (found on the Indiana Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard) equals or exceeds 10%. 

The TCDH said the recent significant increase in infections has been driven in large part by the rapid spread of the coronavirus in crowded indoor spaces where social distancing and/or mask usage is not available.

The order states when the 10% threshold has been reached the following measures will be implemented:

• a) Retail businesses – will be limited to 75% capacity
• b) Cultural, entertainment, and tourism venues – will be limited to 50% capacity
• c) Gyms and fitness centers – will be limited to 50% capacity
• d) Senior day centers – will be limited to 50% capacity
• e) Restaurants – will be limited to 50% indoor capacity (outdoor capacity of 100% of available seating is permitted provided that social distancing of at least 6 feet is maintained; tents must have two open sides)
• f) Bars – will be limited to 25% indoor capacity (outdoor capacity of 100% of available seating is permitted provided that social distancing of at least 6 feet is maintained; tents must have two open sides)
• The Tippecanoe County Health Department will issue a statement when the county’s 7-day all tests percent positivity reaches 10% and provide the date that the above measures become effective. The measures would stay in effect until the 7-day all tests percent positivity drops below 10% for 14 days.

The full order for retail, cultural/entertainment, gyms, and senior centers can be found here.

The full order for restaurants and bars can be found here.

Further details will be provided during the press conference on Wednesday, November 18. It will be streamed live on WLFI.com Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.