INDIANAPOLIS — New Year's Eve revelers who plan to spend the evening at Indianapolis bars and restaurants will have to head to the door just as 2021 is being rung in.
The Marion County Public Health Department is ordering all restaurants, bars, taverns, nightclubs, retail food establishments, and other establishments providing in-person food, drinks or both to be closed to indoor dining and drink service and cleared of customers between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m.
“Traditionally New Year's Eve celebrations can be a significant risk factor in spreading COVID-19, unless we are very diligent in making sure that all establishments, including residential settings, are making sure there are no large crowd gatherings, social distancing is maintained at least six feet and wearing their mask appropriately,” said Virginia Caine, director and chief medical officer of the health department.
According to the health department, staying home and celebrating with the people you live with or celebrating virtually with loved ones is the safest choice this year. The department says large gatherings are a bad idea.
If you are celebrating the new year with people outside your household the Centers for Disease Control advises taking these precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure a safer New Year's Eve:
- Wear a mask, indoors and outdoors, with two or more layers to protect others and yourself. Wear a mask that fits snugly against the sides of your face, covers your nose and mouth and fits securely under your chin. Keep a spare mask with you and avoid touching your mask, eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Social distance with those who live outside of your household. Stay six feet, about two arm lengths, away.
- Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place and before eating. If you don't have access to soap and water, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Do not attend any events if you are sick. The CDC asks that everyone remembers that you can still spread COVID-19 to others, even if you are not displaying any symptoms.
If you attend or host a celebration:
- Talk with guests ahead of time to set expectations for celebrating together.
- Limit the number of guests.
- Keep celebrations outdoors, if possible.
- If indoors, open windows and doors. Use a window fan to blow air out, which will pull fresh air in through the open windows.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items
- Have guests bring their own food, drinks, plates, cups, and utensils.
- Have extra unused masks available for your guests and encourage everyone to wear them inside and outside.
- Keep background music volume low so guests don’t need to shout.
"Here we are now, in the moment of highest risk we have been in the entire pandemic — we've been at this for so long that we're now looking for some type of answer or solution to help us cope," Dr. Caine adds.
"The truth is, though, now's the time to hunker down and keep your eye on the ball — hang in there for a few more months into the new year, and make your night about letting 2020 go."
