A letter from Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges

To the Residents of the Village of St. Joseph,

I wanted to give a brief update as to what the next two weeks may look like in the village.

We will continue to have the village office closed to the public this week and probably the following week. Staff will be in the office answering phones and handling all daily operations. Sewer payments can be made by phone, mail or dropped off at the village’s night deposit located next to the front door.

The public works department will also continue to operate as usual to keep the village running as smoothly as possible under these circumstances. Please avoid approaching the village workers and practice safe distancing.

If you have concerns, questions or emergency needs please contact the office during office hours. The office staff will notify the public works department or have someone contact you by phone.

The village parks will be closed. Enjoy the open space but avoid the playground and the restrooms will remain closed.

Please visit the village website for more information and changing schedules. We will do our best to keep you informed.

I want to thank our wonderful community for being the St. Joseph that I have always loved. Once again, I’m proud to say that this is my hometown and so very thankful to be able to serve my community as your Mayor.

As we make our way through these frightening and trying times continue to be patient with those around you. Continue to work together to help our community members and businesses. Help our local businesses during the shutdown and thereafter. Curbside services are being offered by the restaurants, grocery store and apothecary.

Please check on your neighbors especially our senior citizens and those with disabilities medical or otherwise.

Contact the village office if any of these citizens need help picking up groceries or prescriptions.

Just a few suggestions as we continue to practice safe distancing and staying home; go online and complete your census, read a good book, play board games with your children, take a walk or bike ride (the bike trail is open for business), contact the food bank or schools to help with their curbside services and most of all smile and wave at those you meet each day.

We will all need that bit of encouragement as we work our way through the next few days or weeks to come.

Thank you and God Bless.

Tami Fruhling-Voges, St. Joseph Village Mayor

Illinois to Shelter-In-Place

Rumors have been circulating since yesterday evening that Illinois will "shelter in place" between now and Monday to avoid spreading the virulent COVID-19 virus throughout the state.

Even while President Donald Trump resist putting the nation on lockdown as Spain, Italy and France have done, multiple sources are reporting that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans to issue the "shelter-in-place" order for the entire state at 3pm press conference later today.

With the lack of testing, treatment facilities and a reliable cure or vaccine on the horizon, the order is being issue to mandate Illinois residents to stay in their homes to help suppress the spread of the coronavirus across Illinois and prevent medical facilities from being overloaded.

The length of the state's soft lockdown is unclear at this time, but two weeks with the possibility of consecutive resets until the infection rate subsides substantially seems to be the likely starting point.

Medical experts point out that the US infection rate is roughly following the same pattern as in Italy ten days ago. France and Spain are two to five days ahead of the North America. In two weeks, doctors and researchers will know if Illinois social distancing measures will save countless lives.

Italy has reported 41,038 cases with 3,405 deaths. Just over 4,000 who were tested have recovered at this point.

The confirmed cases in Illinois have risen rapidly over the past week because more tests are being processed. As of yesterday, there have been 3,151 test performed. Two people have recovered after testing positive. Meanwhile, 422 residents have been confirmed with the infection. So far, four Illinoisans have died from contracting the virus and the governor wants to act quickly to prevent additional loss of life.

Under the order, residents will still be able to shop for food at stores and food markets, get gas for vehicles, pick up medication at their pharmacy and even take walks. The effort is to curtail gatherings to prevent transmission from person to person. Schools will remain closed under this order.

A local "shelter-in-place" order was issued to residents of Oak Park also at 12:01 a.m. Friday, according the Chicago Tribune. Residents are required to stay at home except "for essential travel as outlined by village ordinance".

President Trump unveils new COVID-13 guidelines

Yesterday, President Donald Trump unveiled his Coronavirus Guidelines For America for the next 15 days during his White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing.

The two-page document included the routine hygienic recommendation of washing hands, sneezing into your elbow and avoiding touching one's face.

The guidelines include instructions such as avoid social gatherings of 10 or more people, avoid eating at restaurants and food courts as well as drinking in bar establishments, not to visit nursing facilities unless to provide critical assistance and to avoid discretionary travel.

The President's instructions also recommended utilizing delivery, pick-up and drive-thru options for fast food or dining. Many states like Illinois have already mandated that restaurants no longer serve dine-in clientele.

The President said his administration was doing "a very good job under the confines of what we are dealing with". He praised the way people working on suppressing the virus outbreak have come together to work hand-in-hand.

"It seems to me, if we do a really go job, we'll not only hold death down to a level much lower than the other way had we not done a good job," he said during the briefing while taking questions from reporters.

According to the COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard yesterday, there are 106 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 in Illinos. The are distributed throughout the state as follows: Cook 76; Lake 6; DuPage 5; Sangamon 4; Kane 3; McHenry 2; St. Clair 2; Winnebago 1; Peoria 1; Whiteside 1; Cumberland 1; Champaign 1; Clinton 1; Will 1; and Woodford with 1 case.

The second part of the document focus on America taking 15 days to the spread of the virus.

This page tells Americans to stay home if they feel sick and do not go to work. It also asks that if someone in your home test positive for the virus, that the entire household must stay home. No work, school or play and afflicted persons should contact a medical professional.

When asked how long Americans will have to endure the disruption in everyday life, President Trump responded that it was his favorite question and that he asked his team of experts that all the time.

"It seems to me, if we do a really go job, we'll not only hold death down to a level much lower than the other way had we not done a good job," he said. "People are talk about July, August (or) something like that. So it could be in that period of time."

He praised those who are taking common sense measures to avoid spreading the disease to the elderly and vulnerable population in the country.

"People are self-containing to a large extent," said. "We look forward to the day when we can get back to normal."