Staff COVID-19 Cases Close Deerfield Driver's Services Facility

DEERFIELD, IL — Calling it a precaution, the Illinois Secretary of State's Office is closing the Deerfield Drivers Services Facility for two weeks after employees tested positive for COVID-19. The facility at 405 W Lake Cook Road will reopen Tuesday, Aug. 10.

Secretary of State Jesse White is urging the public to consider using online services when possible instead of visiting a facility due to heavy customer volume, according to a news release. The closest facilities are in Waukegan (617 S Green Bay Road) and Chicago North (5401 N Elston Ave.).

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines, employees who work at the Deerfield facility are being quarantined for 14 days. The facility is scheduled to be cleaned and sanitized, following Centers for Disease Control health and safety protocols.

Citing an increase in positive coronavirus cases, White announced Wednesday that, starting next week, employees and customers at driver services facilities and Secretary of State offices will be required to wear masks.

The order, which also includes the Illinois State Capitol building, will go into effect Monday, White said in a news release. The announcement comes a day after the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention issued new recommendations that everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, should wear masks indoors in areas that have seen a spike in positive COVID-19 cases.

White extended expiration dates to Jan. 1, 2022, for driver’s licenses and ID cards, so customers do not need to rush into Driver Services facilities, according to the news release. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses and CDL learner’s permits.

White has greatly expanded online services and encourages the public to visit his office’s website at www.cyberdriveillinois.com. Many transactions can be conducted online such as the purchasing of license plate stickers, obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card, and renewing driver’s licenses and ID cards, including Real IDs, for those who are eligible, according to the news release.

As a reminder, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has extended the federal REAL ID
deadline to May 3, 2023.

RELATED:

• Illinois Secretary of State Reinstates Required Mask Policy

Stay Patched In!

• Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest Deerfield news
• Check out the Events Calendar for what's going on in Deerfield
• Patch Mobile: Get app for iPhone and Android