Coronavirus: Evanston Mayor Announces State Of Emergency

EVANSTON, IL — The City of Evanston is under a state of emergency, Mayor Steve Hagerty announced Sunday night. The mayor's message cites confirmed coronavirus cases in Evanston, alongside state and federal actions to reduce the spread of the virus, as the cause of the state of emergency.

Hagerty said the state of emergency is "a proactive measure which will enhance our City's ability to respond to this infectious disease."

The state of emergency means:

• The opening of the city's Emergency Operations Center, allowing for greater coordination and management. It will be led by the mayor, acting city manager, Health and Human Services director, city emergency manager and the police and fire chiefs.
• Hagerty has assembled a Coronavirus Task Force for the city with "key members of the education, government, business, faith, nonprofit, health, and senior communities" to disseminate information to their communities and to share their concerns.
• A special City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. "to take care of some time-sensitive City business ... Please watch from home."

The mayor repeated the city's effort to "flatten the curve" to slow the spread of the virus by taking efforts like thorough hand washing and social distancing.

Since the mayor's last message, he said, several major events have taken place, listed below:

• Two Evanston residents have been confirmed to have COVID-19. They are self-isolating and are being monitored by our Health and Human Services Department.
• The Health and Human Services Department is conducting an investigation of all those who were in direct contact with the confirmed cases. These individuals are required to self-isolate and report to Health and Human Services on a daily basis.
• Additional residents who have come into close contact with other non-Evanston COVID-19 exposures will also be required to self-isolate for 14 days.
• On Friday, the President declared a national emergency.
• This afternoon, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the closure of all bars and restaurants statewide effective Monday, March 16, at close of business through Monday, March 30. (Restaurants will remain open for delivery, drive-through and pick-up orders.)

"In light of these developments and the growing threat to our community, I took the action today of formally declaring a local state of emergency," the mayor said.

Mayor Hagerty continued:

"I know this is an unusual, uncertain, and frightening time. Having spent my career helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, I can say that the social fabric of Evanston is strong enough to withstand this threat if we all comply with the directives of CDC and IDPH; continue to organize, lend a hand and help one another (for we all will be impacted by this emergency, but not impacted equally); and understand that our community leaders and organizations will be pressed to make difficult decisions.