Nearly 50 Joliet Coronavirus Cases, Mayor Reveals

JOLIET, IL — Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk told residents of the state's third largest city that there are nearly 50 confirmed cases of city residents recovering from the new coronavirus. On Wednesday morning, the city also announced one of the officers at the Joliet Police Department has been diagnosed with the new coronavirus.

The mayor, in a video, relayed the following statistics regarding Joliet residents:

• AMITA Health Saint Joseph's Medical Center had 27 patients who tested positive for coronavirus.
• Silver Cross Hospital had 21 patients test positive for coronavirus.
• St. Joe's also had 29 patients isolated who have not tested positive for coronavirus.
• Silver Cross had 36 patients isolated who have not tested positive for coronavirus.

O'Dekirk alerted everyone that the city's current total "will continue to grow."

Joliet Fire Department ambulances have transported 12 new coronavirus patients, he said.

Nobody at the Joliet Fire Department has come down with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, thus far, the mayor said.

As for the one known case of coronavirus involving a city employee, "He's doing well," O'Dekirk said. The Joliet officer "had been quarantined for sometime when he started showing symptoms."

Illinois Coronavirus Update April 1: Almost 6,000 Cases; 100 Dead

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O'Dekirk also discussed the drive-thru coronavirus testing site set up in the Walmart parking lot at 2424 West Jefferson St.

At this point, testing is now available to people who are at least 65 years old. However, the mayor stressed, the Walmart parking lot testing is not open to every senior citizen who simply wants to take the test.

Senior citizens who show up at the Walmart testing site must already be showing symptoms of the coronavirus, O'Dekirk emphasized.

"We simply don't have enough tests to test everybody in the community," O'Dekirk said.

O'Dekirk also urged everyone in Joliet to adhere to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's directives regarding social distancing and staying at home as often as you can.

If people need to get groceries, go to the pharmacy, visit a doctor, purchase gas for their cars, that's fine. People can also go for walks in their neighborhoods. O'Dekirk also urged people to patronize local restaurants that remain open for delivery and takeout orders.

"It's difficult for everybody involved," O'Dekirk said. "It's important we continue to follow the directive from the governor's office ... we all play a role in this, in containing this as best we can."

Joliet has a population of about 149,000 residents.

Meanwhile, the Will County Health Department announced Wednesday that a woman in her 80s has died, bringing Will County's total count to nine coronavirus deaths.

As of April 1, Will County had 323 confirmed cases. The total was 257 on Tuesday, March 31.

Related:

• Joliet Police Officer Tests Positive For Coronavirus
• Illinois Coronavirus Update April 1: 100 Dead, Nearly 6,000 Cases
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