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The official proclamation was read in part by State’s
Attorney Brad Hauge. Don Cavi with the Health Department also spoke.
Cavi confirmed that to date there have been eight patients tested
for potential coronavirus. Two tests have come back negative, the
results on the other six is still pending.
To date there are NO cases of coronavirus in Logan County. Cavi
repeated what he said in a Thursday press release, that the
community must assume that coronavirus is active in Logan County
because it is spreading rapidly throughout the state.
Cavi explained that the disaster proclamation would
have little if any impact on the general public. What the
proclamation does do is open the door for the county to receive
additional resources to combat coronavirus. This would mean the
availability of more equipment and supplies for emergency agencies,
the hospital and Department of public health.
Those on hand for the press conference included Hauge and Cavi, plus
Sheriff Mark Landers and Kendall Caruthers representing Logan EMA,
Logan County Board Emily Davenport, LCDPH Director of Nursing Kara
Davis, LCDPH Emergency Response Coordinator Salena Matson, Angela
Stoltzenburg representing Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and
Resident Circuit Judge Jonathan Wright.
Cavi encouraged the public to observe social distancing (six feet of
separation), to be diligent about hand washing and cleaning and
disinfecting surfaces that are touched. He supported the stay at
home where possible and encouraged everyone to be careful and
mindful of touching their faces with their hands.
Governor issues stay at home order
Later in the afternoon on Friday, Governor JB Pritzker issued a
state-wide stay at home order. This order will have an impact on the
public much more dramatically than the disaster order issued by the
county.
With the stay at home order, all non-essential businesses are to
shutter their doors effective Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 5 p.m.
Non-essential businesses are to remain closed through April 7, 2020.
Pritzker said that this order would not impact food stores, drug
stores or gas stations. Restaurants may still be open for carry out
or delivery only, doctors, medical facilities and hospitals will
remain open.
Food delivery service that is being provided through the education
system to children who are not in class right now will continue.
First responders and emergency services will continue to serve their
respective communities.
Transportation workers are to continue working.
News sources may also continue to work, bringing
local news to their respective communities.
[to top of second column] |
 Pritzker said that people are not necessarily
confined to their homes. They may still go outside. They can go for
walks, observing social distancing, they can walk their dog and
other such activities. One clarification the
Governor made was that state park indoor facilities are closed but
people can still go out and walk on trails and he encouraged that
they do get out for fresh air and exercise.
Pritzker said he would like to say that this will all be over by
April 7th, but there is no guarantee. Right now the stay at home is
in effect only until the seventh, but the Governor could extend that
date as needed.
On the county side. Logan County Chairman Emily Davenport said that
the county will have to hold a special meeting within seven days
from Friday in order to officially ratify the disaster declaration.
Other than that the Logan Board will be working to conduct essential
decision making votes using other alternatives.
In today’s edition there is also a complete press
release issued by the Logan County governmental offices. Most all
county government will be operating but with limited staff and under
limited conditions. The only office listed that will be closed is
the office of the Logan County Treasurer.
Be sure to read that complete list before visiting the courthouse or
other governmental offices in the community.
On the city government side, there is no word yet as to how the city
will respond to these new orders. It is understood that all first
responders will continue to serve their communities.
The city hall building has been closed to walk-in business, but
staffed during regular business hours for more than a week.
The Lincoln City Council postponed the March 24th Committee of the
Whole meeting, resetting the date to March 31st. With this change,
the city may re-evaluate their meeting schedule and seek other
alternatives.
The Governor has issued a waiver of the Public Meetings Act that
would allow all city boards or councils as well as the county board
to meet via email, telephonic conferencing or video conferencing.
As has been stated many times by many people from our local health
department to our city, county, and state leaders, all the way to
the President of the United States, these are tough times right now.
We all need to join together and support one another as best as we
can…from a distance.
Call your neighbors, ask them if they are okay, see what they need.
Check on family members and take advantage of your email and social
media to make sure your loved ones are okay. And stay home, and stay
safe.
In LDN right now, we have begun running our Easter Devotionals
written by our local pastors. In today’s edition is a piece written
by Pastor Greg Wooten of Hope Church in Lincoln. In one paragraph he
makes a profound observation.
"But if you squint really hard, I think
there is an even better point of similarity (when considering the
Sesame Street game, 'one of these things is different') – they are
all temporary. Some are merely bothersome, some are truly dangerous
and devastating, but none of them will last forever. Someone once
wisely said that the most precious words in the Bible are, “… and
it came to pass.” It didn’t come to stay. It may seem like an
eternity, but trust me, it’s not."
[Nila Smith]
Related articles
Logan County Disaster
Proclamation - Pdf
Gov. Pritzker Announces Statewide Stay At Home Order to Maximize
COVID-19 Containment, Ensure Health Care System Remains Fully
Operational |
