PEORIA, Ill. — The staff with the Peoria County Coroner’s Office will take extra precautions and not suspend services.
County Coroner Jamie Harwood said there have been no reported deaths in the region from COVID-19. Two tests are currently pending for two individuals who are hospitalized and receiving treatment.
Harwood said that right now it is business as usual, but when arriving on scene, staff may have a different appearance.
“Depending on what’s reported or how the person was found deceased to begin with. So, we might show up gown, glove, masks, goggles, we may not. It just really depends on what the type of call is for,” Harwood said.
Services at the Coroner’s Office will continue as normal.
“In the office, we process death certificates, cremation permits, lawyer requests every single day,” Harwood said. “That process will not stop and we will continue to serve the public in the manner that we can.”
All tours, lectures, and job shadowing experiences that were scheduled at the Coroner’s Office have been canceled.
“And, we’ll probably resume in the fall as more information becomes available with the virus,” Harwood said.
The Peoria County Coroner’s Office is in constant communication with the Peoria County/City Health Department, and they are prepared.
“It’s a fluid situation. It’s sort of like if you have this and the answer is no, then you go to this box; if it’s yes, then you go to this box,” Harwood said. “It’s like a chart. And, I think we are prepared. I think we are prepared in Peoria and regionally speaking with our disaster preparedness.”
