Allen County Imposes Restrictions Amid Growth In COVID Cases

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) — Allen County's health commissioner scaled back capacity at bars, restaurants and gyms and issued restrictions on gatherings Tuesday amid a growing number of COVID-19 cases

Beginning Sunday at noon, restaurants and bars are restricted to 50 percent capacity and are forced to close between midnight and 5 a.m., Commissioner Dr. Matthew Sutter said. Gyms also are limited to 50 percent capacity.

Sutter's order also places limits on social gatherings and events depending on the county’s status in the state's color-coded chart of COVID-19 severity.

Allen County became the latest local government in Indiana to impose such restrictions because of the pandemic after Indianapolis and Gary issued similar restrictions.

The county reported 304 new residents tested positive and nine more residents died Tuesday, bringing its totals to 14,889 cases and 273 deaths.

In addition, the city of Fort Wayne is closing local government offices, parks department offices, community centers and youth centers beginning Monday through Jan. 19.

The county’s new order does not affect salons or schools, Sutter said at a news conference.

Sutter said the restrictions were aimed at slowing the growth in new COVID-19 cases, protecting hospitals and health-care workers and avoiding unnecessary deaths while remaining sensitive to business concerns.

COVID-19 cases in the county are doubling every seven days, Sutter said.