ELKHART COUNTY, Ind.—Mayors and officials in Elkhart County wrote a letter to business owners as COVID-19 cases in the county remain on the rise.

Elkhart County Mayors Jeremy Stutsman, Rod Roberson and Phil Jenkins, Commissioners Frank Lucchese, Suzie Weirick and Mike Yoder, as well as Elkhart County’s chambers of commerce and Economic Development Corporation Presidents Nick Kieffer, Levon Johnson, Jeff Kitson and Chris Stager all signed the letter dated June 1.

The letter, addressed to Elkhart County’s business community, noted that the area is seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases, saying that the number of cases is expected to double every 12.5 days.

While the increase in testing is noted as one of the factors in the increased confirmed positive cases, the percentage of positive tests to total tests given is also rising dramatically, the letter said, pointing to a spread issue.

The officials are encouraging business owners to continue practicing physical distancing as well as taking precautions like masks and hand washing.

As of June 1, Elkhart County had a total of 1,322 positive cases out of 9,489 tested and 28 coronavirus-related deaths.

Read the full letter below: