ORDINANCE NO. _____, SERIES 2020
title
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ENSURE SAFE, UNOBSTRUCTED ENTRY TO AND EXIT FROM A HEALTHCARE FACILITY.
body
SPONSORED BY: COUNCIL MEMBERS GREEN, SHANKLIN, DORSEY, SEXTON SMITH, COAN, HOLLANDER, TRIPLETT, GEORGE, AND PRESIDENT JAMES
WHEREAS, the Louisville Metro Council recognizes that unimpeded access to health care facilities for the purpose of obtaining medical counseling and treatment is imperative to the safety and well-being of the City and community;
WHEREAS, preventing the willful obstruction of and interference with peoples' access to medical counseling and treatment at a health care facility is a matter of City-wide concern especially due to the current health pandemic caused by the 2019-novel Coronavirus ("COVID-19"), which is a new communicable disease that has not been previously identified in the world;
WHEREAS, there is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 and the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus;
WHEREAS, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC"), the virus is thought to be spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six (6) feet);
WHEREAS, according to the CDC, people with underlying medical conditions entering or leaving a healthcare facility are more likely than others to become severely ill or may even die if they are exposed to the virus;
WHEREAS, there is a documented history of obstruction of and interference with people's access to healthcare facilities in Louisville caused by close contact with other individuals;
WHEREAS, there is no mandate or law requiring Louisville Metro Police Department ("LMPD") officers to enforce social distancing guidelines in order to protect individuals from the spread of COVID-19;
WHEREAS, as of July 16, 2020, over 3,483,832 individuals in the United States have been diagnosed with COV...
Click here for full text