The Village of Oak Park’s response to coronavirus pandemic mirrors the state of Illinois
The play area that is apart of Sara’s work space when clients meet in her home. Photo by Sara Stern.
The Village of Oak Park was among the first municipalities within Cook County to issue a shelter-in-place order.
Oak Park mayor Anan Abu-Taleb declared a local state of emergency on March 18 citing the Illinois Municipal Code an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus by issuing a shelter-in-place order in effect until Friday, April 3.
Oak Park Public health director Mike Charley issued a public order for residents to stay home from March 20 to April 3 at 11:59 p.m.
“All persons may leave their residences only for essential activities, essential governmental functions, or to operate essential Businesses,” said Charley in a statement.
More on the statement from Charley can be found at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VMORlFnjB1g4emevXpY3-FI7N4dg8Pg8/view.
However, after Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an order for residents across Illinois to stay inside on March 20, Oak Park officials released an additional statement that it would defer to the state’s order. Illinois’ order began Saturday, March 21 at 5 p.m. and is scheduled to end on Tuesday, April 7.
The impact of the coronavirus is already being felt within the village.
Two Oak Park residents tested positive for the coronavirus including a woman in her 40s and a man in his 30s as well as two emergency room physicians at Rush Oak Park Hospital, according to a report by the Chicago Tribune.
The Real Chi has communicated with One Oak Park resident who is already feeling the impact of the shelter-in-place order.
Sara Stern, a pediatric occupational therapist living in Oak Park with her son and his girlfriend, said she has had to adapt to changes within her job by offering services by phone call for a shorter period of time.
“My income has dropped to a quarter of what I was able to earn if I was doing face-to-face visits,” said Stern.
To keep up with updates for COVID-19, visit http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus.