Title
Resolution extending the declaration of emergency due to corona virus disease (COVID-19) in Lake County, Illinois, for 45 days.
Staff Summary
• Lake County has been impacted by COVID-19.
• Lake County must take actions to contain and mitigate the local impact of the expanding global outbreak of COVID-19 to provide for the continuity of government, activation of community mitigation plans, and to allow for expedited response without circumventing constitutional protections for citizens.
• Despite efforts to contain COVID-19, the CDC indicates that more cases of COVID-19 are expected in the United States in the coming days, including more instances of community spread, and as the outbreak continues, widespread transmission of COVID-19 in the United States is expected occur.
• The circumstances surrounding COVID-19 constitute a public health emergency as defined under Section 4 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Accordingly, the Lake County Board Chair issued a declaration of emergency proclamation on March 13, 2020 for a period of seven days.
• The extension of this proclamation for 45 days will assist Lake County, by and through its Emergency Management Agency and Health Department, to coordinate county and municipal resources and response activities and suspend certain provisions and procedures for the conduct of county business in an effort to protect the health and safety of persons, and provide emergency assistance pursuant to Illinois law.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, under authority of Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305/11, and upon a joint recommendation by the Lake County Department of Health and Lake County Emergency Management Agency, a proclamation was enacted declaring that an emergency exists in Lake County due to the following reasons: more than one Lake County resident has tested positive for COVID-19, and given the potential impact on high-risk populations, it is imperative that all appropriate steps be taken to reduce the rate of transmission; and
WHEREAS, while Lake County is presently responding to this situation, and it has activated the Lake County Emergency Operations Plan and Lake County Health Department Emergency Operations Plan by proclaiming that a disaster exists within Lake County, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, additional emergency procedures and protocols may need to be implemented to facilitate decision making across the County and allow expedited procurement should it be necessary; and
WHEREAS, the County may require resources from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and this emergency may exceed the County's available personnel and financial resources, and therefore funding and resources from the State and/or Federal Government may be necessary to mitigate the disaster; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Lake County Code of Ordinances Title III § 32.07, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, 20 ILCS 3305/11, a local disaster exists within Lake County, Illinois and it is expected that the conditions will be present for an extended period of time such that it is necessary to continue this proclamation for an additional 45 days.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this County Board of Lake County, Illinois hereby approves this Resolution to be effective Monday, March 16, 2020 extending the Disaster Proclamation by 45 days to be effective through Monday, May 4, 2020 unless further extended by the Lake County Board.
DATED, at WAUKEGAN, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS, on this 16th day of March, A.D., 2020.