Monroe County health officials are extending operating hours for bars now that the county is 'blue' on the state COVID-19 map.
County Health Department Public Information Officer Kathy Hewett says bars may now close at 2 a.m. rather than 1 a.m. and restaurants that do not serve alcoholic beverages don't have to close early.
All restaurants and bars had to close at 1:00 a.m. when Monroe County entered the advisory 'orange' level on the state COVID map back in November.
Monroe County's seven day all-test positivity rate is at 0.6 percent, consistently the state's lowest rate.
The change in hours takes effect Thursday, March 4. County health officials will meet again next week to determine if any more updates are necessary.
READ MORE: Indiana Opens Vaccine Registration To Hoosiers 50 And Older, Second Expansion This Week
Monroe County's total COVID case number rose by 20 Wednesday to 10,363, and the county death toll stayed the same at 163.
Some 81,148 Monroe County residents have been tested.
For the latest news and resources about COVID-19, bookmark our Coronavirus In Indiana page here.
