First, I want to remind you that the Village’s essential services are continuing to operate. Our Police Department and the Orland Fire Protection District are operating normally and responding to all calls while simultaneously executing our emergency pandemic plans. One change you will see is that they will be wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for all interactions with the public. This is for your safety and theirs.
Also, I want to remind you that all of Orland Park’s buildings are closed but our essential services are still operating. Many of our services are available on line. If you do need to meet with someone at the village, please call and make an appointment. The Secretary of State office in Orland Park will remain closed after that date until further notice to ensure the continuity of local government.
Based on the Governor’s executive order, many, if not most businesses can be considered essential businesses. It is up to each business to review the governor’s executive order or to the call the governor’s office to determine if it can remain open. Please don’t call the village to ask for a determination. Neither our staff nor I can make this decision, it is up to the businesses and governor’s office. Also DO NOT call the police or 911 to ask this question. These lines need to remain open for emergency calls and official business.
We have frequently been asked if specific businesses are open. Please call or email specific business you have a question about to determine whether or not they are open. Again please don’t call the Village as we do not know the status of individual business.
We are frequently asked what activities are permitted? Leaving home for essential activities is permitted. These included activities for health and safety, for necessary supplies and services, for outdoor activity (including walks, bike rides, etc.), for work in businesses that remain open and to take care of others. Also, if you are traveling for these permitted activities, I encourage you to order food for pickup if you are able to help our local businesses during these challenging times.
Another question is, is the dog park open? Based on the Governor’s order the dog park is currently closed. Our parks remain open but we ask everyone to stay off of the playground equipment because this virus can be transferred via surfaces and children rarely show symptoms but are often carriers.
Another person asked what the Village is doing about setting up testing centers in Orland Park? Testing centers are coordinated by CDC the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Cook County Department of Public Health and health care providers. These decisions are based on the needs of the country, state and county. We have contacted these providers to ask them to keep us informed of their actions.
I am involved in a lot of phone calls on COVID 19 and here is the latest information:
As of the call there were 490 cases in Chicago with 4 deaths, and 1,049 statewide with 9 deaths. It is currently in 30 of the state’s 102 counties and 184 of 195 countries worldwide. COVID 19 has also been found in every state. Orland Park has 2 cases. Both are elderly individuals. There are also several people being monitored and tested at this time. These cases were expected. The number of cases are on an upward trajectory which will likely continue for at least two to five weeks. Reasons for this include more testing, the virus is spreading and that people that caught it yesterday may not show symptoms for over a week. On the bright side, 78% of cases don’t result in a single night in the hospital.
This executive order is likely to last for at least a few more weeks and possibly longer. It is not expected to be lifted until the curve starts flattening and that the health care experts believe that the system can handle any surge that occurs after lifting the ban.
I want everyone to know that you will continue to see more cases and they will ramp up quickly. This is expected and there is no need for panic. For most of us, this virus will have very little impact, but we need to ensure that we do what we can to keep from spreading it to the vulnerable populations. Staying calm and keeping life as normal as you can in these abnormal times will be critical to how we rebound from this when it is over.
There is no question that COVID 19 is very serious and many of you are frightened by it. This pandemic has certainly highlighted many shortcomings in planning and execution throughout the country. The same thing happened after Pearl Harbor, the housing crisis of 2008 and 9/11. Now is not the time to point fingers or lay blame, it is time to work together for solutions. People and companies all over the country are stepping up to find solutions. Over time, we will all find out which companies and which people are part of the solution and which ones become part of the problem.
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