Elkhart County has reopened its COVID-19 Call Center one day after being designated in the "red" by the Indiana State Dept.of Health.
The county is also opening up an online concern form that people with complaints can fill out about COVID-19 precautions at businesses, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, events and gatherings.
Today at 12:01am new public heatlh orders kicked in that were issued by the Elkhart County Health Dept.
Many of the action items in the order appear to mimic language already put in place by the state for counties designated as red.
A face mask mandate is outlined with information that includes an incremental enforcement structure that starts with a written warning and could escalate up to having the health department issue an order to close a business or issue a penalty of up to $2,500. Within the face mask mandate is a page worth of exceptions as to when a mask is not required.
A mitigation directive addressing the size of gatherings was also issued that contains a similar enforcement structure.
Late Thursday it was announced that Elkhart City Courts will no longer be operating in-person.
(You can read the release on that below.)
Elkhart City Court, in response to our county being designated a RED ZONE, will not hold in-person hearings in the court until we can return to more normal operations. All hearings and trials will be continued. ln-custody criminal cases will be conducted at the Elkhart County Jail or remotely. However, if you have immediate court business, some matters may be scheduled for Friday mornings at 9:00 am. You may contact the Elkhart City Court Clerk's Office at 574-522-5272 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. to schedule such matters.
The Courts do not anticipate having any in-person hearings until after the first of the year.
All trials set during the time that Elkhart County is in a RED status will be continued to a new date. We will notify you of new trial and hearing dates, so make certain that we have your proper E-mail information and address. As a general rule, spectators and the public will be denied entrance to our court so long as the Emergency Order is in effect.
The Elkhart City Clerk's Office will be available by phone at574-522-5272 Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for all other questions that you may have. Please also remember that the status of pending cases may be confirmed at: mycase.in.gov.
This protocol is in place to protect all of us from COVID-19.
