March 13, 2020 – March 20, 2020

As the sun shines bright and the air smells like spring, a stay-at-home order the State of Illinois and Shelby County, which has a handful of pending tests for COVID-19.

As of Thursday morning, there still were no confirmed tests of COVID-19 in Shelby County. But there were four tests pending, according to Steve Melega, Health Administrator at the Shelby County Health Department.

The Shelbyville Daily Union asked HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital about its preparations to handle COVID-19.

Marriage applications in Shelby County filed from March 5-March 13, 2020:

A key committee meeting of the Shelby County Board was canceled for Thursday morning in the midst of a stay-at-home order issued by the Governor of Illinois. 

The Shelbyville Community Unit #4 School Board worked quickly through the agenda at their latest board meeting on Thursday, March 18, highlighted by new course offerings and a farming lease agreement with the U.S. Corps of Engineers at Lake Shelbyville.

SPRINGFIELD – As the state saw the largest single-day jump in confirmed COVID-19 cases and an infant tested positive for the virus, Gov. JB Pritzker on Sunday called for volunteerism from healthy Illinoisans and increased blood donations.

March 13, 2020 – March 20, 2020

Phone first is the advice. The Shelby County Courthouse doors are open, but people are being requested to phone ahead before showing up to do business.

There were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Shelby County as of 9 a.m. Monday, according to the Shelby County Health Department.

Shelbyville City Hall announced that it will be open for business, but only by appointment.

SHELBYVILLE — HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital has begun screening all patients for COVID-19 symptoms in a triage area outside the main entrance.

SPRINGFIELD — The number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in Illinois almost doubled overnight, from 160 cases to 288, the state’s Department of Public Health announced Wednesday.

To our readers:

Springfield – With the state’s blood supply running low, lawmakers joined blood center officials in Springfield Wednesday to call on people to donate blood and stressed that blood centers are still safe, sterile places for healthy people to donate.

COVID-19 virus – The CDC and State of Illinois recommendations have left most of us dealing with unprecedented issues we have not had to face before due to COVID-19. Dove is trying to do our best as we comply with the State and Federal requirements on these issues.

Cornerstone Community Fellowship in Shelbyville is continuing to meet and the film series “The Chosen” will be shown again this Sunday.

Cowden voters on Tuesday decided to allow alcohol sales in the village by a 79-53 vote. But going “wet” will take a few months, according to Mayor Loren Barnes.

Shelbyville City Council member Martha Firnhaber announced at the Shelbyville City Council meeting on Monday, March 16 that in talking with the Shelby County Clerk's Office, she was told there would be curbside voting available on Tuesday, March 17 for the Primary Election.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Arizona are pushing forward with Tuesday’s primary election, although the coronavirus is causing headaches as polling places need to be moved and workers afraid of catching the disease drop out.

March 06, 2020 – March 13, 2020

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker took an unprecedented step Sunday to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic by ordering bars and restaurants in the state closed to the public starting on Tuesday, March 17, which is both St. Patrick’s Day and Illinois’ Primary Election Day.

SHELBYVILLE — Due to concerns about COVID-19, influenza and other illnesses, HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital has decided to postpone or cancel non-essential events/classes at the hospital through the end of April. This includes Mass celebrated in the Good Shepherd Chapel.

Even amidst the angst over changing past practices, talks about a forensic audit, and the coronavirus, the Shelby County Board took care of business last Wednesday.