The Jackson County Health Department announced in a news release Monday that while the state mandate ends today, many COVID-19 precautions will remain in effect for the county.

Both the state and county will be under a public health emergency for another 30 days, ending April 30.

All local businesses are still required to have a COVID response plan that provides COVID safeguards. Businesses also should encourage their employees to be vaccinated.

Food service employees who have direct contact with patrons (wait staff, hostesses and bartenders) are required to wear a mask. It’s also recommended that individuals from nonhousehold parties be spaced 6 feet apart at tables, counters or other seating arrangements.

Decisions about venue capacity are in the hands of local officials. Venues are still required to submit a COVID-19 safety plan to the health department. Plans will continue to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis while the county is under the public health emergency.

To limit community spread of COVID-19, barbershops, beauty salons, tattoo parlors and other workers in industries with direct customer contact where social distancing and physical barriers are not possible should still wear a facial covering.

“This is our chance to come together as a community to keep every resident in Jackson County healthy,” the news release states. “We should continue to be cautious and not become complacent. Just as we saw last winter, cases can jump without notice, and we could be back in the same shutdown.”

The news release ends in a call to action to get vaccinated.

“Lastly, get vaccinated, please continue to be respectful, think of your fellow residents and continue to do the things to keep yourself and others safe,” the health department says.

If a person is not vaccinated, they still must quarantine after an exposure to COVID-19.

Under the public health emergency, social distancing is still strongly recommended, and face coverings are still strongly recommended when social distancing is not possible.

The health department says people should wash their hands frequently with soap and water and use hand sanitizer when soap and water is unavailable.

Employers are encouraged to communicate to their employees that activities outside of work have the potential to increase the spread of COVID-19 in their workplaces and communities.

Hoosiers ages 16 and up are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule an appointment, go to outshot.in.gov or call 211 for assistance.