PART 1 OF 2 - DECLARATION #2020-06
*** IMPORTANT: This Declaration applies to Lake County, Indiana's government only. This is not indicative of an extended stay-at-home order by Governor Holcomb nor does it have any impact on the Back on Track Indiana plan from the Governor's Office. ***
The Board of Commissioners has declared the following:
1. The closure of Lake County Government buildings to the general public announced on March 23rd is hereby extended through and including Friday May 22, 2020 with the intent to return to normal operation on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.
2. Regular and normal business hours of operation will occur and each department staffed on Monday May, 18 2020. In order to maintain proper social distance requirements, individual Department Heads are authorized to modify schedules in accordance with the Governor’s Order and County Ordinance(s).
3. Individuals who need to access the Lake County Board of Elections and Registration for either filing reports or access to records shall not be prevented entry.
4. Members of the public required to do business in-person at any government office or department are required to have an appointment before entering the buildings. Each elected official and department head is encouraged to provide Court Security with a daily list of appointments for verification of such appointments.
5. Employees are further instructed to seek direction from their immediate supervisor for direction on specific job assignments during this closure.
6. All individuals who are entering the buildings will be required to adhere to the Lake County Government COVID-19 Safety and Action Plan. (See below and attached PDF.)
PART 2 OF 2 - COVID-19 SAFETY & ACTION PLAN
LAKE COUNTY GOVERNMENT COVID-19 SAFETY & ACTION PLAN
Effective: May 15, 2020
In accordance with Governor Holcomb’s Executive Order 20-26, we intend to begin reopening Lake County Government offices. To comply with the Governor’s order and to ensure the health and safety of our employees and visitors, Lake County Government will enact the following policies related to COVID-19.
● Instituting an employee health screening process:
○ Employees are to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, which includes persistent cough, shortness of breath or any other acute respiratory
symptoms, or fever (100.4°F or above).
● If you have COVID-19 symptoms outside of work you should stay home, contact your personal healthcare provider and notify your
supervisor or follow your department’s normal call-off procedures.
● If you exhibit or if you observe another individual exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms at work, you are required to contact your
supervisor/department head immediately and they will instruct you or the individual to go home. In the event of emergency conditions, EMS will be
contacted. Once home, you are to contact your personal healthcare provider.
Do not come to work when you are exhibiting Covid-19 like symptoms
● Employing enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols for the workplace, including regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces:
● Housekeeping Staff will continue to clean and disinfect all high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures etc. on a
regular basis in addition to cleaning offices as usual.
● Employees are expected to ensure sanitation at their workstations and to take precautions when using equipment that is not solely used by the
employee.
● Enhancing the ability of employees, and visitors to wash hands or take other personal hygiene measures such as use of hand sanitizer:
Soap and hand sanitizer are available at all our facilities. Employees and visitors are encouraged to do the following:
● Hand wash with soap and water for 20 seconds, multiple times per day. Use hand sanitizer if hand washing is not an option.
● Avoid touching your face, in particular nose and eyes
● Use cough and sneeze etiquette - sneeze into a tissue or into your elbow/sleeve, dispose of used tissue in trash receptacle, and wash hands
immediately after or use hand sanitizer.
● Complying with social distancing requirements established by the CDC, including maintaining six-feet social distancing for both employees and members of the general public when possible and / or employing other separation measures such as wearing face coverings or using barriers:
○ Practice social distancing of 6 feet from each other, and when possible:
● Stagger scheduled start times, breaks, lunch, locker-room activities, etc.
● Do not congregate in work rooms, break rooms, or restrooms
● Maintain at least a 6 feet distance from other employees when in a shared space
● Minimize the amount of personnel in work vehicles, mobile equipment,
● Avoid in-person meetings / communication as much as possible, and instead, communicate by email, phone, Skype, etc.
● Limit contact with Visitors and Vendors.
● Do not shake hands with others.
● Effective immediately all individuals in public areas of our buildings must wear a face mask or face covering. This rule also applies to nonpublic
spaces where a social distance of 6 feet or more cannot be maintained.
● At this time, surgical style masks are available at a rate of 1 per workday for those wearing these masks. (These can be disposed of with normal
trash.)
● All masks and personal protective equipment issued by Lake County Government are intended to be used at your worksite.
● Employees are allowed to bring and wear non-company issued facial coverings provided they do not pose a significant safety risk. The wearing of face masks and coverings are allowed even if social distancing requirements are met providing, they do not create safety risks.
Michael Repay, President
Lake County Board of Commissioners