coronavirus

Supermarket employees are among the most essential during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Now, more than 460,000 Kroger workers across the country will be seeing an increase in their pay and benefits -- at least for now.

Southern Illinois Congressman Mike Bost is hosting a telephone town hall meeting with small business owners in Randolph County.

The Jackson County Health Department is reporting three new cases of COVID-19.

The three new positive tests are a man in his 60's, likely acquired from travel out of state...a woman in her 20's, likely acquired from travel to the Chicago area... and a woman in her 90's, acquired locally.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri has jumped by nearly 300, even as calls for a statewide stay-at-home mandate increased.

The state health department said Tuesday 14 people have died and 1,327 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed.

While states keep track of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and those who die from the virus, some are calling for news on how many people are recovering.

As COVID-19 has sent college students home to learn remotely for the remainder of the semester, faculty and staff at Southeast Missouri State University are working rapidly to engineer Personal Protective Equipment for the local healthcare community.

Today is an important day for some industries being hurt by the stay at home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens reminds this is the final day to apply for 14 million dollars in Hospitality Emergency Grants earmarked for Illinois tourism.

The latest confirmed case of COVID-19 in Jackson County is an SIU student.

The Jackson County Health Department reported the case Thursday, saying the patient is a male in his late teens who is in "fair" condition, and who apparently caught the virus while visiting the Chicago area.

During his daily COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, Governor J-B Pritzker announced the federal government approved his request for a major disaster declaration for the State of Illinois.

The State of Illinois is taking additional steps to address the unprecedented volume of unemployment benefit claims the department has fielded as a result of COVID-19. 

The Illinois Department of Employment Security has taken several steps to improve the unemployment benefit claims process via the online portal and the call center.

45 Community Health Centers in Illinois will received 3.6-million dollars in federal grants to support their COVID-19 response efforts. 

They'll be able to use the funding to help increase screening and testing needs, acquire medical supplies, protective equipment, and boost telehealth capacity.

Illinoisans are still reporting problems trying to access unemployment applications on the Illinois Department of Employment Security website.

Governor J-B Pritzker addressed the issue earlier this week saying improvements are being made after the old system that was not capable of handling the huge volume of applications during the COVID-19 crisis.

States across the country are developing their own responses to the COVID-19 outbreak, sometimes more aggressively than what the Centers for Disease Control may be recommending.

A southern Illinois fire department is trying to make birthdays brighter for local residents during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Anna Fire and Rescue Department is offering to send a fire truck -- with its lights on -- to help local residents celebrate their birthdays during the Shelter at Home order.

The Saluki Food Pantry is asking for help to replenish its depleted supplies.

On its Facebook page Tuesday, the Student Center posted SIU-Carbondale students have taken advantage of emergency food bags to the point where more supplies are needed.

SSM Health is further restricting visitor standards as the COVID-19 crisis grows.

Banterra Bank is providing financial support to its customers by launching a Coronavirus Hardship Assistance Program.

Some Illinoisans are reporting having trouble accessing information to learn about unemployment benefit opportunities with so many off work due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

During his daily briefing Monday, Governor JB Pritzker said the state found out the hard way it's previous online system wasn't ready to handle the volume of applications coming in.

Shawnee Alliance has received an Emergency Assistance Services grant from Illinois Department on Aging in response to COVID-19.

Grant funds will be used to assist older adults 60 and older in Shawnee Alliance’s 18-county service area with unmet needs related to COVID-19 and isolation.

**Editor's Note: This page is updated regularly. If you need information, email the address below
 

As the region makes changes in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus, WSIU will be maintaining a list of closures and restrictions in the region.

Any information on canceled events, closures or restrictions can be sent to closings@wsiu.org.

Schools/Government Services

Due to concerns over coronavirus, grocery stores are changing their procedures.

Many stores have altered their hours to allow for cleaning and restocking, including Schnucks, Kroger and Neighborhood Coop in Carbondale. Kroger will be closed from 10 pm to 7 am, Schnucks from 10 pm to 6 am and Neighborhood Coop from 7 pm to 9 am.

Kroger and Schnucks will also be setting aside hours for seniors and vulnerable people to shop. Kroger will be seniors only from 7 am to 8 am and Schnucks will be open to seniors and vulnerable populations only from 6 am to 7 am.

SSM Health is joining other agencies in offering COVID-19 testing to patients in southern Illinois.