55 Confirmed Cases Of Coronavirus In New Lenox Area

NEW LENOX, IL — The new coronavirus outbreak in Illinois and across the country is having vast impacts in New Lenox, including the closure of several local businesses, the library, park district and schools.

As of Friday, the number of cases in Illinois is 56,055 and 2,457 people have died from the coronavirus. According to the Will County Department of Health, there are 2,639 confirmed cases in the county, and 159 county residents have died.

As of May 1, the Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 441 tests have been performed and there are 55 confirmed cases of coronavirus in zip code 60451. In the Lincoln-Way area, ZIP code 60448 (Mokena) has 76 cases, 60423 (Frankfort) has 85 cases, and 60442 (Manhattan) has 23 cases.

Don't miss updates in New Lenox as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has also extended the stay-at-home order until May 30. Essential businesses will operate as they have been, but there are some changes with the order as of May 1, including: some state parks will reopen; greenhouses, plant nurseries and garden center can reopen as essential businesses; pet grooming services can reopen; and nonessential retail businesses can reopen to fulfill telephone or online orders via delivery or curbside pick-up.

Here are the latest local updates from New Lenox:

>>>See statewide updates and news here

Homewood Disposal Services, which provides refuse services for New Lenox, is asking that households infected with the coronavirus bag all recyclable material and place it in the trash/refuse cart. MORE.

An employee at Berkot's Super Foods in New Lenox has tested positive for the coronavirus, the company said Monday. An employee at the Orland Park location has also tested positive. MORE.

NURSING HOMES

The Cottages of New Lenox has had nine positive cases of the coronavirus and two related deaths, Executive Director Alda Tole told Patch Monday. Two of the nine cases reported at the facility were residents, and both residents have died. MORE.

SCHOOLS

Lincoln-Way District 210 shared on its Facebook page that graduation has been postponed until the weekend of July 17-19. The last day of remote learning for the seniors will be May 15, while the rest of the school will continue remote learning until May 21. MORE.

New Lenox Patch wants to provide a way to share the achievements of our high school graduates, even if it's in a small way. We're asking parents and families to fill out a short form for their graduate, and Patch will compile the information and share it on an ongoing basis throughout the month of May. MORE.

At Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, graduation has been postponed, but the district has canceled prom for junior and seniors. The decision left the senior class devastated, senior Caellin Flaherty told Patch. Flaherty and four of his classmates — Carolyn Whalen, David Vargas, Sophia Martello and Annie Brtis — have now taken the planning of prom into their own hands. MORE.

Schools across Illinois, and in New Lenox, will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. MORE.

BUSINESSES

New Lenox Patch is gathering information from local businesses to create a business directory for residents to access during this time. MORE.

Since NAWS Humane Society of Illinois in Mokena had to close to the public in March, it has been in danger of closing permanently. The society has now secured a loan that will get the society through mid-June. MORE.

Usually, a dance studio is rarely empty, filled with various dancers in classes or lessons. Now, with nonessential businesses closed due to the coronavirus, Street of Dreams Dance Studio in Mokena has had to change operations while still teaching its dancers. MORE.

HOSPITALS

The amount of coronavirus inpatients at Silver Cross Hospital has once again decreased slightly overall in the past week. As of noon Wednesday, the hospital said it has 52 inpatients who have tested positive for the coronavirus and 12 persons under investigation. MORE.

A Lemont woman was released from Silver Cross Hospital April 24 after five weeks of battling the coronavirus. Halina Zabinski, 59, was the first coronavirus inpatient at the hospital when she was admitted in mid-March. MORE.

CANCELLATIONS/CLOSURES

The Diocese of Joliet has suspended all normal religious services until further notice. The Islamic Foundation of the Southwest Suburbs has also suspended its Friday services. MORE.

The New Lenox Library is closed until further notice. Patrons should keep their checked-out materials at home until the library reopens. The library has also canceled all of its in-person programming until August. MORE.

All New Lenox Community Park District programs have been canceled and all facilities are closed until May 30. Playgrounds and park equipment are also closed.

The first concert planned for the popular Triple Play concert series in New Lenox has been rescheduled to Aug. 29 due to the coronavirus. The village has also canceled the majority of June events planned for the Commons. MORE.