How COVID-19 precautions are affecting Du Quoin
As of 5 p.m. March 21, all nonessential establishments, including most retail, recreation and entertainment businesses were ordered closed. This order does not restrict essential activities like going to the grocery store, receiving medical care, or taking your pet for a walk. Furthermore, it does not restrict a place of business from offering food and beverage using delivery service, window service, walk-up service, drive-through service, or drive-up service.
Restaurants are encouraged to remain open, using precautions to mitigate potential transmission of COVID-19. Patrons are not permitted to dine-in, everyone must keep a social distance of at least six feet and each establishment is limited to no more than 10 people inside at one time.
Bars are required to close. However, package liquor sales may continue.
Providers of "essential" services are not as restricted. They include but are not limited to grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, police stations, fire stations, hospitals, clinics and health care operations, and garbage/sanitation. (A full list can be found at coronavirus.illinois.gov.)
The City of Du Quoin will continue day-to-day operations but is closed to the general public. The City Clerk's office will remain open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. However, you can no longer walk in your payments for water and sewer bills. Instead, you can place your payment in the drop box, make payments online, or make them over the phone at (877) 231-0983.
Most events and meetings scheduled in Du Quoin City Hall are canceled. Special arrangement may be made for business or city meeting of importance and necessary for city operations (call 618-542-3841). The city council meetings are being handled through telephone conferencing, and continue to be broadcast on cable channel 16. While the public cannot attend council meetings in person, residents watching the broadcast can phone into the meeting at the citizen comment portion of the agenda, by calling (618) 542-3841.
The Du Quoin Public Library is closed to the public. However, books will be available through a curbside service, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Library patrons may order books online or at (618) 542-5045, and the books will be brought out to patrons in their cars. Simply follow the instructions given by the library staff.
The City of Du Quoin urges local businesses and agencies to implement measures that assist in reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. No cases of the virus have been reported in the Du Quoin area. Nevertheless, practicing social distancing and preparing for remote working situations will assist in preventing the spread of the virus.
"The safety of our citizens is always our top priority," said Mayor Guy Alongi. "The City of Du Quoin understands that the governor's proclamation may make things tough for the time being, but we know we are going to get through this, and it will require everyone doing their part. That means making smart choices and not putting yourself or others at risk."
<i> Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The city will continue to provide updates on duquoin.org and on social media. Extensive information is also available at Coronavirus.illinois.gov and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.</i>