CENTRALIA, Ill. (AP) - A labor union that represents employees at an Illinois residential facility is asking that officials take a proactive approach to prevent the spread of coronavirus cases at the center.
Local 401 of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees’ request comes after 17 residents and six employees tested positive for the virus at the Warren G. Murray Developmental Center last week. Murray is an Illinois Department of Human Services facility for people with developmental disabilities. There are 241 residents and 559 employees, the Belleville News-Democrat reported.
Murray had 41 confirmed cases, including 22 residents and 19 employees as of Monday, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services on Tuesday.
Progress has been made to reduce the chance of transmission, the union said via Facebook in response to the newspaper’s request for comment.
“However, this is a time of crisis,” according to the statement posted prior to Tuesday’s figures. “We need more than listening from management. (We) need urgent and decisive action. In too many instances we believe management is still doing things the way they’ve always been done, rather than being willing to change approaches in order to minimize risk.”
Meghan Powers, Human Services spokeswoman, said Thursday that the initial 17 residents who tested positive for coronavirus were quarantined in Grape Cottage. She couldn’t be reached for further comment.
Carl Green expressed concern for his brother, John, who is staying at Grape Cottage. John tested negative for coronavirus, but he could be at risk if he developed respiratory issues due to his spinal condition.
“I’m somewhat relieved after hearing some specifics about what they’re doing (to protect residents),” Green said. “I would still like to have Johnny moved out of that cottage, but I can’t say that they’re being reckless.”
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