Hours after announcing the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Oak Park, officials announced the west suburb would go on lockdown later this week, becoming the first Illinois municipality to issue a shelter-in-place order to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb declared a local state of emergency and Public Health Director Mike Charley issued a public order requiring residents to shelter in place beginning Friday through April 3, the village announced Wednesday evening.
Residents are urged to stay home, but businesses providing “essential services” are exempt, according to the village.
That includes “grocery stores, banks, convenience stores, pharmacies, restaurants for delivery and pick up only, laundromats, skilled trades essential to maintaining the safety and sanitation of residences, hardware stores, medical service providers, first responders, transportation providers, government activities and essential social service providers and shelters,” officials said.
Earlier Wednesday, Oak Park officials said a man in his 30s was the village’s first confirmed case of the virus. He was recovering in isolation at home.
“The Oak Park Department of Public Health is working closely with officials from the Illinois Department of Public Health, investigating and notifying anyone who may have had exposure to the individual who tested positive for COVID-19,” officials said.
Violating the order will be treated as a violation of the Illinois Public Health Act, a Class A misdemeanor, according to a copy of the order obtained from the village.
The village’s website crashed in the minutes after the order was issued.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who has pleaded with residents to stay home but thus far stopped short of a statewide lockdown, announced Wednesday that 288 people in Illinois are so far confirmed COVID-19 patients. One person has died, and some have made full recoveries.
The tally is expected to grow exponentially in the weeks ahead with expanded testing.
#OakPark Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb has declared a local state of emergency, and Oak Park Public Health Director Mike Charley also issued a public order that requires residents to shelter in place effective March 20 through April 3. More information ➡️ https://t.co/WRD0FIvkwx pic.twitter.com/xa9rr3shu7
— Village of Oak Park (@vopnews) March 18, 2020
Read the full text of the order below:
