Rockford Sun

At least three people in Winnebago County have now tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the Illinois and Winnebago County departments of health.

The Rockford-Star reports the most recent two victims were Rockford residents, with one person being in their 30s and the other in their 40s. The county’s first victim was previously identified as a man in his 60s.

As of the evening of March 19, the Illinois Department of Public Health placed the state’s overall total of cases at 585 across 25 counties with patients ranging in age from 3 to 99.

All across the area, programs have been canceled, postponed or changed in some way to prevent the spread of the virus that has now prompted Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to enact a “stay at home” order for the entire state.  

According to The Star, the latest closings and developments across the county include:

•Rockford Public Library through April 7 in accordance with the statewide shelter-in-place order.

• Sunday services and all activities at Riverside Community Church in Machesney Park are canceled through the end of March.

• Northern Illinois University has postponed May graduation ceremonies.

• Illinois records 128 new coronavirus cases in one day.

• RMTD is offering free rides through April 1.

• The Rockford Board of Elections office at 301 S. Sixth St. is closed to the public. If any person has business with the office, please call 815-987-5750.

• All 630 AMC movie theaters across the country, including the Showplace 14 in Machesney Park and Showplace 16 in Rockford, are closed for at least six to 12 weeks.

• Schnucks and Target are setting aside special shopping hours for seniors and those most at risk of COVID-19.

• Rock Valley College, which has extended spring break for all credit classes until Monday, March 23, will transition to online and alternative instructional delivery that day. This will be the case until further notice.

• The village of Rockton has closed Village Hall through April 6. Village staff will be available via phone and email from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Residents making payments are encouraged to use the 24-hour drop box in the Village Hall entrance, 110 E. Main St., pay online or call 815-624-7600 to make a payment by phone. No late fees will be assessed during March and April for water/sewer bills and no water shut-offs will take place for nonpayment.

• The Winnebago County Jail is suspending in-person visits.

• Lifescape Community Services’ adult day program, health and wellness services, and advocacy and assistance programs will be suspended indefinitely. The Meals on Wheels program and transportation, adult protective and comprehensive care coordination services will continue to operate.

• Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that all offices, including Driver Services facilities statewide, will be closed through March 31. Expiration dates for driver’s licenses, identification (ID) cards, vehicle registrations and other transactions and document filings will be extended by 30 days through an emergency rule.

• The Rockford Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau’s main office and visitors center at 102 N. Main St. in Rockford is closed to the public, the bureau announced Monday, March 16. All RACVB staff remain available by phone and email but are working remotely until further notice.

• The Golden Apple Foundation of Rockford’s 24th Annual Excellence in Education Banquet scheduled for April 24 had been rescheduled for June 5.

• Courts in Boone and Winnebago counties will limit jury calls, but key court functions will proceed as normal.

• Rockford Public Library will offer remote services only starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 18. Full services continue through 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. All events and classes are canceled as of Wednesday.

• Carpenter’s Place, which serves the homeless at 1149 Railroad Ave. in Rockford, will not accept in-kind donations through March 27.

• The Rock River Water Reclamation District has closed all community areas of the district campus, including the Graceffa Administrative Building, 3501 Kishwaukee St., Rockford.

• The Rockford Art Museum is closed until further notice. All events, classes and programs are canceled or postponed.

• The Rockford Park District facilities are closed and all events and programs are suspended through at least March 30. That includes the five golf courses, two Sportscore complexes, the UW Health Sports Factory, Washington Park Community Center, Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, and the two ice houses.

• The Illinois Gaming Board has suspended gambling at the state’s 10 casinos for 14 days starting Monday.

• The Rockford Public Library is canceling some classes and events that would serve groups in excess of 25 adults. Please check the library’s event calendar for cancellations.

• Rockford University and Rock Valley College each extended spring break for students by one week to March 23.

• The 17th Judicial Circuit Courts in Winnebago and Boone counties remain open. “The current situation is one that presents challenges to the Court’s normal operating procedures. We are looking at all of the ways in which we might temporarily alter those procedures to minimize risk while still attending to the Court’s core responsibilities.”

• Prairie State Legal Services is suspending in-person outreach, including on-site clinics and intake. It is suspending all nursing home visits.

• Northern Illinois University in DeKalb is extending spring break by one week.

• Gov. JB Pritzker has declared a state of emergency.