MT. VERNON, IL — The City Council decided at Monday night’s meeting to not open the Aquatic Zoo this summer due to COVID-19 uncertainty. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel says the end of March typically begins the preparation process to open the Zoo.

She says it was better to err on the side of caution this summer with the coronavirus situation being so fluid and ever changing each day.

As of Thursday morning the Jefferson County Health Department had announced 78 confirmed cases and 2 deaths from COVID-19.