North Judson-Wayne Township Public Library

208 Keller - North Judson, Indiana 46366

Phone: 574-896-2841 Fax: 574-896-2892

Email: lib.norjud@gmail.com

Starke County is at an all time low for COVID cases! Starting Monday, February 15th, our hours are:

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday: Open to the Public, 10am - 7pm cst.

Wednesday: Curbside Service, 10am - 4pm cst.

Friday: Open to the Public, 10am - 6pm cst.

On days we are open to the public, patrons are allowed to enter the building for 30 minute sessions.The doors will remain locked to help with crowd control. There is a doorbell and signs to assist in your business with the library. To be admitted to the library, patrons MUST wear a mask during the entire duration of the visit, even if you have received your full COVID vaccine. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

We are not requiring patrons to call ahead but are limiting the building to 25 patrons at a time. If you would like to be guaranteed entry when you arrive, please call ahead.

Effective immediately, residents needing to conduct business inside the Starke County Courthouse or Annex buildings will have to call ahead and get an appointment. The Starke County Commissioners approved an order Monday night restricting public access to all county buildings due to a heightened community spread of COVID-19. The order will be reviewed during the commissioners’ next meeting on Monday, December 7.

Residents may access Starke County’s government website at www.co.starke.in.us to obtain information, email a certain individual, or call an office to conduct official business. Appointments can be made to see a department head by calling that office.

The commissioners also commented that the local mask mandate remains in effect. Residents are urged to wear masks in public spaces. Patrons and employees must wear a mask inside the county buildings.

If residents refuse to wear a mask inside the county buildings, business may be conducted outside of the building.

Additionally, the commissioners allowed employees to obtain a doctor’s note to go back to work after COVID isolation. It was noted that some employees have voiced concerns when a COVID-19 positive person returns to work without a negative test result. Starke County Health Nurse Frank Lynch suggested that the county follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines when determining the recommended time to return to work after isolation. The CDC suggests returning after 10 days from when the symptoms first appeared, 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, and when other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving. According to the CDC’s website, the loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery. Even though those symptoms may linger, it would be permissible to return to work.

Lynch stated that Starke County has the highest positivity rate compared to surrounding counties. He urges residents to wear a mask, maintain a social distance, wash hands frequently throughout the day, disinfect high touch surfaces, and use hand sanitizer.

(Article taken from wkvi.com.)