Cook County Board extends emergency declaration

The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to extend its disaster proclamation through the end of May.

The proclamation, first announced last week, unlocks additional funding and resources to address the impact of the new coronavirus pandemic.

The amended ordinance approved Monday also affirms the county will work with federal, state and local partners to make resources available to residents and businesses impacted by the situation.

It also gives Board President Toni Preckwinkle the authority to issue executive orders and conduct some county business without board approval. The move comes as the county board has canceled all meetings through April.

Preckwinkle announced Monday afternoon that they would take steps to limit public access to county buildings and reduce the number of employees working on site.

“We are facing this immense challenge with swift and strong preventative measures,” she said in a statement. “By reducing foot traffic in the county building and reducing the number of people in all our county facilities, we are taking decisive and dramatic steps to stop the spread of the coronavirus.”

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