A Unified Command response has been assembled to deal with efforts to address the spread of COVID-19 in Knox County.
Members of the command held a press conference today at Galesburg City Hall to relay pertinent information to the public and to talk about preparations they’re making.
Coordinator of the Knox County Emergency Management Agency Randy Hovind says the command will be following the Emergency Operations Plan until further notice.
When the unified command meets Hovind says members now are communicating on a daily basis in the interest of being on the same page.
They consist of the heads of District 205, Galesburg Police, Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Cottage and OSF hospitals, ROE 33, Galesburg Fire, GHAS, Galesburg Public Works and the Knox County Health Department.
Hovind says if community needs do arise they want to be able to effectively address them where ever they’re at.
Hovind says the whole effort is really about community.
“This is a message for everyone. There’s no need to overshop or hoard for supplies. Our distributions of goods have not been compromised and by hoarding or completely stripping shelves it makes the situation worse. In many ways, the hoarding is a bigger problem than the actual event itself.”
Public Health Administrator Michele Gabriele says they’ve also been in direct contact with area nursing homes.
Hovind says the Fire Department has suspended any commercial inspections, public education, and asked members to not come into the station.
Police Chief Russ Idle assures the public that police will continue to be there if needed, but they will limit responses.
Some calls will be handled over the phone if they don’t deal with personal injury or damage to property.
Enforcement actions also will be somewhat limited.
“Obviously, if you’re being unsafe we’re still going to take care of business. But the state has suspended expired registrations or expired driver’s licenses — things like that. So, we’re not dealing with some of those real low-level things so we can focus on the needs of the community.”
He says officers are practicing social distancing, and conducting staff meetings by email but Idle says there are layers of plans if illness spreads through the department.
Cottage CEO Bob Moore says his biggest concern is keeping people out of the E.R., reminding you to stay home and call your primary care doctor if you feel ill.
