PEORIA, Ill. — Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis announced Thursday a new housing plan.
In conjunction with local healthcare facilities and other Peoria entities, Four Points Sheraton has opened its doors to three specific groups of individuals.
Individuals who are symptomatic with COVID-19 and require isolation and can’t do so in existing shelter, asymptomatic individuals who need to be quarantined because they have been exposed, and individuals who are high risk who live in shelters will be referred to the hospital.
Ardis said referrals to hotel housing will begin Monday.
The COVID Recovery and Secondary Housing Plan has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for reimbursement of costs, and Peoria County said it will front initial costs.
Peoria City/County Health Administrator Monica Hendrickson said 19 ICU beds throughout the region’s healthcare system were in use for confirmed or suspected cases and 29 non-ICU beds were in use for confirmed or suspected cases.
Hendrickson said there are two projection models that project a peak: a severe model and what she called a “happier” model.
“We talk about the peak, but the peak doesn’t mean the next day the virus disappears,” she said.
“The issue is [whether] our healthcare providers can handle the capacity when the peak hits.”
Hendrickson encouraged not traveling during Easter weekend.
“The governor’s order still exist,” she said.
“Stay at home, don’t go out for any essential needs, and remember this is really to protect those around you.”
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