MT. VERNON, IL — Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Mt. Vernon, Kevin Sargent has been promised by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency that the Drury Inn & Suites will only be used as a Regional Alternative Housing site.

Although, the hotel will mainly focus on essential employees directly exposed to the virus like those from Green Tree Senior Living who saw an outbreak Sunday of 19 positive COVID-19 cases, it is possible a private citizen could be approved to seek housing too.

Sargent says those that will be considered for housing at the Drury Inn must fit into 1 of 4 categories.

Sargent says currently 3 healthcare workers have chosen to take advantage of the housing site.

The Jefferson County Health Department announced 2 new cases of the novel coronavirus in residents Tuesday morning. That brings the total number of cases to 34 while the death toll sits at 2.