228 Joliet Coronavirus Cases, 3 Nursing Homes Hit: Mayor

JOLIET, IL — A total of 228 Joliet residents have tested positive for the new coronavirus as of April 9, Mayor Bob O'Dekirk revealed at Thursday's livestreamed news conference. During the 20-minute event, the mayor discussed the pandemic's impact on the health of Joliet residents.

"It does seem like everyone's gotten their feet under this and everyone is working effectively to combat this," O'Dekirk told Joliet Patch on Thursday.

Joliet Fire Department ambulances have moved at least 47 coronavirus patients, he said.

The city's lone firefighter/paramedic who was diagnosed with the illness continues his recovery at home. He is expected to be back at work next week, O'Dekirk said.

Illinois Coronavirus Update April 9: 16,422 Cases; 528 Deaths — Don't miss updates about precautions in the Chicago area as they are announced — Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

JOLIET NURSING HOMES

Three nursing homes have had cases of the coronavirus, the mayor said:

• Symphony of Joliet, 306 N. Larkin Ave., reports 15 positive patients
• Spring Creek Nursing and Rehab, 777 Draper Ave., reports 1 patient
• Salem Village Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center, 1314 Rowell Ave., reports 1 patient

JOLIET AREA HOSPITALS

• AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center
  • 44 coronavirus patients are hospitalized
  • 18 additional patients are still awaiting test results
  • 21 coronavirus patients are in intensive care; 20 of those patients are on ventilators
  • 6 coronavirus patients from St. Joe's have died.
• Silver Cross Hospital
  • 54 coronavirus patients
  • 24 patients at Silver Cross who are still awaiting test results
  • 13 patients at Silver Cross have died.

WILL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

• 23 health department employees have tested positive for the coronavirus
• 1,012 cases countywide
• 44 deaths

JOLIET WALMART SITE

Joliet's Walmart parking lot at 2424 W. Jefferson St. is now providing drive-thru tests for anybody who has coronavirus symptoms, O'Dekirk said. Initially, the testing site was only available to police, paramedics and hospital workers. Testing was later expanded to senior citizens. The site has been open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

STATEVILLE

In late March, the St. Joe's hospital was being overrun with prisoners from the maximum security Stateville Correctional Center north of Joliet. Since then, the mayor said, the National Guard has arrived and set up a temporary medical care unit on the sprawling prison grounds. Additionally, the majority of prisoners who were taken to St. Joe's have been transferred to other Illinois hospitals or sent back to Stateville, O'Dekirk said Thursday.

He thanked Gov. J.B. Pritzker for intervening on behalf of the medical center in Joliet. Doing so, helped avert a mini-crisis, O'Dekirk said.

Related:

• Illinois Coronavirus Update April 9: 462 Deaths
• Will County Coronavirus Cases Top 1,000, Woman In 30s Dies
• Will County Courthouse Deputy Tests Positive For Coronavirus
• Will County Sheriff's Deputy, Jail Nurse Have Coronavirus
• Joliet Fire Department Has 1st Coronavirus Case