Coronavirus Precautions: All Lemont Schools Closed

LEMONT, IL — Several area schools, 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 starting Tuesday, March 17, until March 30.

District 113A has announced it will closed Monday, March 16, until Monday, April 6.

"By closing schools to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19, we help lessen the burden on hospitals, which will need to focus their energy on people who are ill," District 113A said.

The district is not aware of anyone in the district who has been infected or exposed to the coronavirus.

The District’s e-Learning plan has been put into place and staff will continue to monitor digital learning. E-Learning days will be utilized until March 19, and March 20-27 will be used as emergency closure days.

The district will close March 29 through April for spring break as planned.

For those who receive free and reduced lunch, the district said lunch will be available for pick-up or drop-off to your home.

Catholic Schools Closed

On Friday, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced all Catholic schools operated by the Archdiocese will close starting Monday. This announcement impacts SS. Cyril and Methodius School and St. Alphonsus/St. Patrick School in Lemont.

"During this closure period, Catholic school students will be asked to complete academic work through electronic learning (“e-learning”) or alternative learning," a statement from the Archdiocese read.

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, has also mandated the suspension until further notice of all liturgical services effective Saturday evening.

Lemont Park District Cancels Event, Closes Preschool

The Preschool Academy is closed Friday. The Lemont Park District said it is not aware of any park district members, guests, or staff who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. This is a preventative measure and is in line with the closure of local school districts.

The park district has also postponed its community showcase and Kidz Rummage sale scheduled for Saturday.

Currently, The CORE remains open during its regularly scheduled hours and all other programs are still taking place.

Lemont Library Closed

The Lemont Public Library has closed until March 28. The library said materials won't be due until March 1.

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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.