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The City of South Bend announced some changes intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate economic impacts on a local level.

South Bend Mayor James Mueller says they are expecting another 200 test results in the next several days. Local health officials say they expect to see the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in St. Joseph County rise.

The city has put new measures in place to help slow the spread.

All community centers and public facilities will close starting Tuesday until further notice. That includes the Morris Performing Arts Center, the Century Center, the Martin Luther King Center, Howard Park, Rum Village, and the Charles Black Community Center.

The city suspended water-shutoffs and late fees for the next eight weeks.

Mayor Mueller said this type of economic activity where everything comes to a halt is unprecedented.

“Federal, state, and local governments are going to have to step up and make sure we get through this and get the economy back on track.”

Mueller said the City of South Bend is working to find more ways to mitigate the impact COVID-19 has had on the local economy

The parks will remain open and will be disinfected each day by city employees.

Venues Parks and Arts is planning to do virtual tours of museums, ballparks, and the zoo, on their Facebook page every day at noon.

Mueller said the City of South Bend will continue to follow any CDC guidelines.

“We’re on top of this as much as we can be in terms of a global pandemic.”

The City plans to continue providing services like trash pickup, clean water, public safety, and Emergency Medical Services.

Contact Annacaroline at acaruso@wvpe.org or follow her on Twitter at @AnnacarolineC16

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