No new mitigations — but at least two weeks of existing restrictions to continue

The Metro East Region 4 area has no new new mitigations placed on it, but neither have any restrictions been lifted, officials reported Tuesday.

Region 4, for purposes of COVID-19 impact, includes Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington counties.

The latest restrictions have been in place since Wednesday, Sept. 2, when the area was reporting a seven-day rolling test positivity average of 9.6 percent. That rate was reported as 9.2 percent as of Sept. 12, still a few points off the preferred rate of 6.5 percent. Region 4 will have their numbers reviewed again in 14 days.

The restrictions in place include the following:

Bars

• No indoor service
• All outside bar service closes at 11 p.m. and may reopen no earlier than 6:00am the following day
• All bar patrons should be seated at tables outside
• No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
• Tables should be 6 feet apart
• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
• No dancing or standing indoors
• Reservations required for each party
• No seating of multiple parties at one table

Restaurants

• No indoor dining or bar service
• All outdoor dining closes at 11 p.m. and may reopen no earlier than 6 a.m. the following day
• Outside dining tables should be 6 feet apart
• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
• Reservations required for each party
• No seating of multiple parties at one table

Meetings, Social Events, Gatherings (including weddings, funerals, potlucks, etc.)

• Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25 percent of overall room capacity
• No party buses
• Gaming and Casinos close at 11 p.m., are limited to 25 percent capacity, and follow mitigations for bars and restaurants, if applicable.