May 6, 2020 Update from the Mayor -

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced 2,270 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois. Currently, IDPH has reported a total of 68,232 cases, including 2,974 deaths, in 97 counties in Illinois. There are now 83 confirmed COVID cases in Hickory Hills and 2 confirmed deaths. Unfortunately, I do not have access to information on the ages of the Hickory Hills residents suffering from COVID. The two deaths were between the ages of 60-69 according to public health records.

Yesterday, Governor JB Pritzker announced the creation of his “Restore Illinois” plan (available via this link), a five-phase plan to safely reopen the state’s economy. As of May 1, the entire state is in Phase 2 (Flattening). For a region to move to Phase 3 (Recovery), the following benchmarks must be reached:

At or under a 20% COVID-19 test positivity rate and increasing no more than 10 percentage points over a 14-day period; and
No overall increase (i.e., stability or decrease) in hospital admissions for COVID-19-like illness for 28 days; and
Available surge capacity of at least 14% of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, medical and surgical beds and ventilators at the region’s hospitals.

In addition to those benchmarks, contact tracing and monitoring must begin within 24 hours of diagnosis and testing must be available for all patients, health care workers, first responders, people with underlying conditions and residents and staff in congregate living facilities.

During his daily press briefing today, Governor Pritzker highlighted when individuals should wear face coverings in public. “At this time, face coverings are required in public situations where social distancing cannot be maintained, and that applies only to those medically able to wear a mask,” Governor Pritzker said. IDPH has provided Guidance on the Use of Masks by the General Public (available via this link).

National Nurse Appreciation Day

THANK YOU NURSES FOR ALL THAT YOU DO! May 6 is National Nurses Day and is to help raise awareness of the important role nurses play in our lives. It marks the beginning of National Nurses Week, which ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale.

Attention Pace Bus Riders!

Due to low ridership levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning May 18, 2020 and until further notice, Pace_Route_379 , which operates in the City of Hickory Hills, will temporarily operate on a modified schedule. Pace continues to encourage riders to sign up for Pace alerts here to stay informed and receive service updates.

Does Not Get Any More Heart Warming Thank This

https://twitter.com/i/status/1258177115117293570

Flower Moon, Last Super Moon of Year is Tonight

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/06/world/flower-supermoon-may-scn-trnd/index.html

No Worries About Maintaining Social Distance With This Get Up

https://twitter.com/i/status/1257330860103208964

Have a great Thursday!

Mayor Mike