Deerfield Declares State Of Emergency In Response To Coronavirus

DEERFIELD, IL — Mayor Harriet Rosenthal declared a state of emergency Monday after the village board voted unanimously to grant her expanded disaster authorities in response to the new coronavirus. Rosenthal's initial orders under the emergency declaration provide for expanded purchasing authority, allow emergency police and public works staff scheduling and encourage coordination with other government agencies.

Rosenthal said the village was facing an extreme public health risk from the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. She said representatives of the Lake County Health Department informed village officials at least one resident had been infected.

"As has been experienced in other locales in the United States and around the world, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has the potential to infect large number of people in a short amount of time, placing extreme burdens on the health care system and the economy," Rosenthal said. "In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the village and to protect the residents of the village from this disease and death, I find that it is necessary to issue this declaration to implement emergency regulations and orders."

On Saturday, the village announced a family member of a Deerfield High School student had tested positive for COVID-19. The student was reported to be asymptomatic.

There were six confirmed coronavirus cases in Lake County as of Monday afternoon, although public health officials had not found evidence any of them were caused by community transmission.

The mayor's new emergency powers include the authority to impose a curfew on some or all of the city, to order businesses or streets closed and to set the maximum prices of goods or services offered within the village. Violators may be fined. Trustees voted to extend the state of emergency until the adjournment of their next board meeting.

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According to Village Attorney Steve Elrod, most Illinois municipalities have not incorporated the authority they have under the Illinois Municipal Code to issue local disaster declarations. At an emergency meeting over the weekend in Highland Park, Elrod said he would advise all his municipal clients to make such amendments.

In Deerfield, Village Hall is open Tuesday as an election day polling place but no in-person village services are available, according to staff. The Patty Turner Center and Deerspring Pool were set to remain open as polling places, but the voting site planned for Congregation B'Nai Tikvah was moved to Saint Gregory's Episcopal Church, the Lake County Clerk's Office announced Monday morning.

Non-emergency village staff are available to help residents by phone, email or appointment. No door-to-door solicitation permits are being issued. Payments and service requests can be processed online.

The Deerfield Police Department has suspended non-emergency services including fingerprinting, child safety seat inspections, disability parking placards, ride-alongs, tours and presentations.

After Gov. JB Pritzker's executive order shuttering dine-in restaurants, the Deerfield-Bannockburn-Riverwoods Chamber of Commerce provided a list of nearly a dozen Deerfield eateries offering delivery and curbside pick-up service during the mandatory closure.

Rosenthal said she would work with Village Manager Kent Street to provide a list later in the week of opportunities for volunteering and to meet community needs.

Also at the March 16 board meeting, trustees took action to allow for members of village board and commissions to conduct future meetings electronically.

Earlier: Deerfield Village Hall Closing To The Public