Dear fellow community members,
As I prepare this update on the current state of COVID-19 in
our community, it is with the hope that you and your families are safe and
healthy and following all guidelines put out by our local, state and national
health professionals so you will stay that way.
This week, Governor Pritzker extended the stay at home order through April 30, 2020, and I want to impress upon you the importance of remaining vigilant and compliant. We must not let our guards down. As the weather becomes milder and sunny days beckon us outdoors, please remember the critical need for social distancing at least six feet from one another, washing hands, and staying home when possible. Please follow the guidelines of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention including:
It is of critical importance that non-essential businesses remain closed, or if not yet closed, to close immediately for the health and welfare of employees and the community at large. As many of you may have read, the Jel Sert Company, a business considered essential as a manufacturer of food and beverage products, including medical foods and Defense Department contracted items, recently reported a number of its employees had tested positive for COVID-19. I want to assure you that Jel Sert has followed the protocols of the DuPage County Health Department and reopened after receiving certification that all precautionary measures are in place to protect its employees.
The City has created a new COVID-19 Communications Center on its website, www.westchicago.org, which will provide regular updates. We have received many requests regarding the number of confirmed positive cases of the COVID-19 virus in West Chicago. All confirmed information the City receives about local cases comes from the DuPage County Health Department, and now the County has shared a new dashboard that reports local cases by town. It may be found on our Communications Center webpage about 1/3 of the way down the page.
This is a time when many of us feel we have little control
of the present situation, but I want to suggest a different mindset. Through
our knowledge of the things we need to do to flatten the curve and ride out the
storm, we have the power to control the course of this pandemic. We must remain
united in this effort.
Respectfully,
Ruben Pineda
Mayor
#WestChicagoUnited