Coronavirus Precautions In Frankfort: All Schools Closed

FRANKFORT, IL — Several area organizations and groups are canceling events and outings due to the coronavirus. Per an order from Governor JB Pritzker, all private and public schools in Illinois will be closed for the next two weeks until March 30.

Lincoln-Way Implements E-Learning Days

Lincoln-Way D210 said it will be closed effective Monday, March 16. The district has spring break the week of March 30, so will not resume until Monday, April 6.

The district said it will implement enrichment e-Learning days starting Tuesday, March 17 through March 27.
"While we do not have any confirmed cases of coronavirus in our district, this decision was made in an abundance of caution to limit the spread of the COVID-19 illness in our community," Superintendent Dr. R. Scott Tingley said in a release.

Frankfort Library Cancels Programs

The Frankfort Public Library District has canceled all library programs and meeting room reservations effective March 16-March 31.

"The health and well-being of our patrons is our highest priority," the library said on its website.

The library said it is also disinfecting door knobs, handrails, grab rails, counters and toys. The library is also asking you to stay home or keep your child home from the library if there have been signs of the flu or if you are not feeling well. The library said it can extend due dates and waive fines for individuals who should remain at home. You can contact them at 815-469-2423 to make arrangements for any checked out items.

District 157-C Postpones Several Events

Frankfort District 157-C has also postponed several large events which were scheduled through the start of spring break. The district said the following events have been postponed: Hickory Creek Middle School talent show, Lincoln-Way Special Recreation wheelchair basketball game and FSP literacy night.

The district has also canceled field trips at Grand Prairie.

"For now, our after school clubs and practice groups will continue to meet until further notice," superintendent Maura Zinni said on the school website.

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Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called SARS-Cov-2, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19, the illness caused by SARS-Cov-2, struck the U.S. on Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now being spread from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way of preventing the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.