CLINTON COUNTY — GOP lawmakers in the area are urging people in Clinton County and the surrounding area to work together to help stop the spread of COVID-19 after 56 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the last 19 days at the Warren G. Murray Developmental Center in Centralia.

A joint statement from Sen. Jason Plummer, State Representative Charles E. Meier, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and the Clinton County Health Department confirms 24 residents of the Murray Center and 32 staff members have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

They call the news “deeply concerning” and say they take it very seriously. Every precaution, they say, is being taken for those residents and staff members who have tested positive, as well as for their families, fellow residents and colleagues.

The Murray Center is in Illinois’ COVID Region 4, which currently has a 7-day rolling average positivity rate of 16.1%. Currently, the COVID-19 positivity rate in all of Clinton County is 19.5%, exceeding the State target for containing the virus.

To help protect the residents and staff of Murray Developmental Center – as well as their families and others in the community – they remind everyone, when outside of your home and household: please wear a face covering, wash your hands, and practice social distancing measures.

These actions can save lives and prevent short- and long-term health problems.