Update on COVID-19: Message from Village President, Catherine Adduci Regarding Extension of Stay at Home Order, Extension of State of Emergency Declaration, CCDPH Confirmed Cases Map, and Senior Citizens Response Program

March, 31, 2020

A Special E-News Message from the Village President, Catherine Adduci

COVID-19 UPDATE

March 31, 2020

Dear River Forest Residents,

Governor Pritzker to Extend Stay at Home Order through April 30, 2020

Tomorrow, Governor JB Pritzker will issue an Executive Order to extend his Stay at Home Order through April 30, 2020. This Order is not anticipated to include any other changes to what is already in effect; it simply extends the Order through the month of April. Click here to view the Governor's announcement.

As a general rule, all residents are required to stay at home, except for permitted activities.
If you feel sick or your children feel sick, please stay at home and contact your medical provider.
If you are a senior with an underlying health condition, stay home and avoid others. See below for how to get assistance with daily errands.
Wash your hands frequently and cover your coughs.
Maintain social distancing, staying 6 feet apart from one another.
All Parks, Facilities, Programs, Fields, Lots, Tracks, Restaurants (other than delivery and pickup) are CLOSED. Only essential businesses will remain open.

Declaration 20-2: Declaration of a Continued State of Emergency in the Village of River Forest

Declaration 20-1, which declared a State of Emergency, expired after last night’s Village Board of Trustees meeting. Accordingly, I signed Declaration 20-2, which extends the State of Emergency in the Village. A Village declared state of emergency gives my office certain abilities and powers to issue executive orders to help us respond to issues of Village concern more quickly and effectively. An example would be entering into an emergency-related contract that would otherwise require Village Board approval, which may now be quickly approved by an executive order issued by me. Of course, we will continue to seek Federal and State funding and resources for costs associated with this crisis. I cannot stress enough the need for speed and flexibility in times of emergencies. This declaration allows for just that.

Confirmed Cases in Suburban Cook County

The Cook County Department of Public Health has made available data representing reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 in suburban Cook County. Its jurisdiction excludes the following municipalities, which have their own state-certified local health departments: Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie, and Stickney Township. Click here and then click on the map and hover your mouse over River Forest.

River Forest COVID-19 Senior Citizen Response Program

The Village, River Forest Township, and Township Senior Services are working together to do daily errands for seniors 60 years of age and older during these extraordinary times. The COVID-19 Senior Citizen Task Force is offering this service to limit seniors' exposure to the general public. If you are an older adult needing services, please contact Township Senior Services at (708) 383-8060. For more information on this program, please click here.
Gratitude Cards and Letters - Are you looking to serve from home during this global pandemic, keep your children busy or show gratitude to medical personnel who are on the front lines? Join us to create letters and cards for personnel at local hospitals. Efforts such as these will help boost morale and remind our community’s health care professionals that we appreciate and support them during this incredibly stressful time. Please place them in the green drop box in front of Village Hall.
To help volunteers with supplies. You can: make masks, provide any gloves and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); supply empty 2oz-6oz plastic pump bottles to fill with hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizer will be for seniors, first responders and others in need. They also would like Filtrete Smart Air Filters and HepaVac cleaner vacuum bags. Please email rfseniorhelp@gmail.com with your donation and a helping hand. Or, call Helen Kwan at 708-613-1642.

Other Information

Residents with additional questions should visit vrf.us, call Village Hall at 708-366-8500 during business hours or call the Police Department Non-Emergency number at 708-366-7125 during non-business hours. In addition to the resources from each of your taxing bodies below, please visit these websites.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security extended the Real ID deadline an additional year to October 1, 2021. Current Illinois driver's licenses or ID cards will continue to be accepted at airports, military bases and secure federal facilities until October 1, 2021. Click here to learn more.
The deadline to file Illinois and federal tax returns has been extended to July 15, 2020. Click here to learn more.