)LaPorte, IN) - Restrictions are being placed on the number of customers inside

essential retail establishments in the city of LaPorte.

Mayor Tom Dermody Friday afternoon issued an executive order that goes into effect

at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

Under the order, essential businesses are limited to no more than two customers for every

1,000 square feet of space and no more than one person from each household.

Walmart, for example, is capped at 125 customers at any one time.

Citing growing coronavirus numbers, Dermody said “we know this is going to continue

to grow and what we have to do is keep our community safe.”

The executive order can last for only seven days but the city council is expected to

utilize Its authority next week to extend the order until the end of April.