PEORIA, Ill. — Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis reiterated the terms of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order at Tuesday’s Peoria City/County Health Department briefing, which included a report the Peoria-Tazewell-Woodford tri-county positive coronavirus case count remained at 16.
He said people should only be leaving their homes for essential services, like grocery shopping and going out to get food, and the six-feet rule of social gathering should be observed at all times.
Ardis said his office has gotten reports of backyard gatherings and other happenings that do not reflect the safety measures put into place.
“With the appearance of warmer weather over the past few days, we’ve seen people who continue to ignore the governor’s order,” said Ardis.
If large gatherings are seen as we continue into the stay-at-home order, Ardis says residents may call the non-emergency police number at (309) 673-4521.
Ardis referenced the Chicago Mayor, Lori Lightfoot, closing beaches, parks, and trails in Chicago when people failed to comply with the stay-at-home order. Ardis said he does not want to impose the same rules in Peoria.
He asked essential businesses to be sure to limit the population of their buildings to 100 people or less.
“It’s especially important, as we know from our first responders, it doesn’t take a lot to stretch our resources, even if just one or two people have the virus,” he said.
Health Administrator Monica Hendrickson said two people were under investigation in local ICUs for COVID-19, while three were in ICU for the virus.
Hendrickson said the speed of lab test results are dependent upon which labs are utilized.
She said to think of the stay-at-home order as a medical intervention.
“When you are going to essential services, make sure you do consider what you’re buying and to keep social distance from those essential employees who help to make sure we are provided for,” she said.
Jeff Gress of Crittenton Centers said they will now offer curbside service for baby supplies. He said they were only going to offer it on select days, but the need was too great.
“On the first day, we fulfilled more orders than we usually do in a week,” he said.
