If you do leave your home, you must continue to practice social distancing and other protective measures to safeguard yourself and others from spread of the virus. You should not visit family and friends unless they need medical or other essential assistance.

Businesses that provide essential supplies and services are permitted to remain open. The list of essential retail businesses which will remain open includes grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, as well as establishments that sell pet supplies, fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh meats, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and any other household consumer products (such as cleaning and personal care products).

Restaurants will remain open, but only for delivery, drive-through, curbside pick-up and carry-out orders. A list of local restaurants which are open can be found   here . 

Gas stations, auto supply and repair shops, bicycle shops, adult use cannabis dispensaries, animal shelters, food banks and other social service organizations, banks and other financial institutions, hardware stores, post offices and delivery services, laundromats and dry cleaners, businesses that sell supplies needed to work at home, hotels and motels, and day care centers for children of employees of essential businesses are also all considered essential and permitted to operate during this time.

Please continue to support all of our local businesses which remain open during this difficult time.

Building and construction tradesmen and tradeswomen are permitted to provide services necessary for the safety, sanitation and essential operation of residences. Individuals providing home-based care, including caregivers, such as nannies and those providing meal delivery are also considered essential. Transportation services, including taxis and Uber and Lyft, are permitted to operate in connection with travel related to essential activities. Roads will remain open to traffic, and public transit services will continue to operate (some with reduced schedules due to a drop in ridership).

The Village will, of course, continue to provide essential services to our community, including police, fire, paramedic, water operations, public works and refuse collection. While Village Hall is closed to the public, Village employees are working from home to deliver those services normally provided at Village Hall. The Village staff has proactively prepared for continuity of operations during management of this crisis, and they are well positioned to continue to serve our community through the duration of the Governor's Order.

Our elderly residents and those who are sick are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. They need to take special care during this time and are urged to stay in their residences except as necessary to seek medical care. If you or someone you know needs assistance or you would like to volunteer , the Village's Community Caretaker Program is connecting people who need help with people who want to help.

Finally, please continue to be a good neighbor. During this 'Stay at Home' Order, please help protect yourselves, your families, your neighbors and vulnerable members of our community. Please call to check in on their safety and wellness. Please do not hoard supplies and groceries. Please donate any extra food to local food banks. Please consider a monetary donation to one of our local community service organizations.

Now is the time to come together as a community, and I know that the residents and businesses of Wilmette will support each other and meet these challenges together.

During times like this, it is important to have reliable sources of information. The Governor's office has provided a compilation of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Order. The FAQs address what the Order means, what types of businesses will be open, and how the Order will be enforced. The full text (9 pages) of the "Stay at Home" Order is also available.

The Village is here to support you in any way that we can during these challenging times. I thank you all for your continued efforts to keep our community healthy and safe. Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to help prevent the spread of this virus.

Bob Bielinski

Village President