Pandemic precautions bring new policies to Gary City Hall

Contributed By:The 411 News

Gary Mayor Jerome A. Prince announced the next phase in the City of Gary’s fight against the spread of COVID-19 virus throughout the City’s workforce and the general public.

The steps comprise the second of a two-phase approach Mayor Prince announced last week. This phase will begin January 1, 2022, and it will last for two weeks.

“As I’ve done since we began our fight against COVID-19, I’m asking our residents, City workers and visitors to be smart about their actions and to take extra steps to protect themselves, their families, their work places and neighborhoods,” Mayor Prince said. “When we take a few extra steps to be safe, we can reduce the threats this virus poses to our community.”

Following are the steps in the next phase:

• All employees and visitors must wear masks or face coverings throughout their time in City facilities, and they must take their temperatures upon entering City facilities.

• All City employees must demonstrate proof of their vaccination status to their department heads, or they must take weekly COVID-19 tests, which will be provided by the City.

• Visitors to City Hall and other City facilities must call ahead to make appointments with the departments they intend to visit. They must wait in their vehicles until they are called into the appropriate office.

• Visitors to City Hall and other City facilities who do not drive or who take public transportation will be instructed to call ahead to make appointments with the departments they intend to visit, and they will be instructed to wait in the main lobby until they are called to their appointments.

• Department heads will provide City workers with a written directive on what to do if they believe they have been exposed to or infected with the virus. Under the direction of the City of Gary Health Department and the Health Commissioner, the directive will be based significantly on the recommendations of the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mayor Prince also encouraged contractors and businesses in the City to use the new Gary Online business portal, gary.in.viewpointclould.com, to renew their permits and apply for new ones. This will significantly reduce foot traffic in City Hall and other City facilities, which will help protect City workers and the public, he said.

Story Posted:01/01/2022