Heights Village Hall reports first known COVID-19 case

A person who attended the Saturday, Aug. 1 special Peoria Heights Village Board meeting has tested positive for the coronavirus. 

“We are alerting members of the public so that they can take measures to protect themselves and those close to them, should they feel a need to,” said Village Administrator Dustin Sutton. He added that he is confident the Village has taken the follow-up steps necessary to ensure the safety of employees and visitors alike at Village Hall, to the extent possible.

All of those in attendance at that Village Board meeting – convened to discuss fire service options moving forward – have been notified of the potential COVID-19 contact, said Sutton. The person diagnosed was masked and practicing social distancing. That person is now in quarantine and will not be present at Village Hall during the duration of it. Village Hall has undergone a deep cleaning. 

“This is a pandemic from which central Illinois is not insulated, so there is a certain inevitability to a situation like this, whether in a publicly accessible local government building, a private sector business or within the confines of someone’s home,” said Sutton. 

“Our commitment to transparency here at the Village of Peoria Heights compels us to keep our constituents informed, and that’s what we are doing now. We urge everyone to act responsibly, for their sake and others’, and to try to stay healthy.”