Latest Coronavirus Updates: 52 Confirmed Cases 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 Sunday, the number of cases in Illinois is 43,903 and 1,933 people have died from the coronavirus. According to the Will County Department of Health, there are 2,127 confirmed cases in the county, and 111 county residents have died.

As of April 26, the Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting 358 tests have been performed and there are 52 confirmed cases of coronavirus in zip code 60451. In the Lincoln-Way area, ZIP code 60448 (Mokena) has 57 cases, 60423 (Frankfort) has 75 cases, and 60442 (Manhattan) has 20 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.

Beginning on May 1, people will also be required to wear a face covering or a mask when in a public place where they can't maintain a 6-foot social distance. Face coverings will be required in public indoor spaces, such as stores. This new requirement applies to all people over the age of 2 who are able to medically tolerate a face covering or a mask.

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.

Several libraries in the south suburbs have opened their book drops to collect donations of personal protective equipment for area hospitals and health care workers. MORE.

NURSING HOMES
The Cottages of New Lenox has seven confirmed cases of coronavirus and one related death, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported Sunday. IDPH is now sharing the case numbers of residents and staff of long-term care facilities. 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.

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.

Local chambers, including the Lockport, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Mokena, New Lenox and Frankfort chambers of commerce, are encouraging businesses and residents to display blue ribbons physically, virtually or both. MORE.

A New Lenox pilates studio has turned to online classes to keep its customers active during these difficult times. Move Pilates Studio, 327 W. Maple St., offers online classes for mat pilates, barre and HIIT workouts now that the studio has closed due to the coronavirus. MORE.

Image360 Mokena usually makes signs, graphics or other marketing materials to help businesses market their brand. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Image360 Mokena has shifted its focus to helping other local businesses during these difficult times. MORE.

HOSPITALS

Silver Cross Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Ruth Colby has added a new video to the hospital's coronavirus informational series: Nursing and COVID-19. The hospital said the video series has earned more than 44,000 views in total on the hospital's Facebook page. MORE.

The amount of coronavirus inpatients at Silver Cross Hospital has decreased overall by two over the past week. As of April 22, the hospital said it has 48 coronavirus positive inpatients and 19 persons under investigation, for a total of 67. 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.