 
Thursday, November 25, 2020 | View in browser
Good evening,
Read below for information about how to celebrate Thanksgiving safely, an upcoming flu vaccination event, Small Business Saturday, and more!
As a reminder, you can find the latest Evanston-specific COVID-19 updates on the City's website.
 Celebrate Thanksgiving safely
We'd like to wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday! Please remember that the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is with members of your own household and by following CDC and IDPH guidelines. Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19.
Holiday service changes: The City has announced holiday service changes and facility closures for Thanksgiving. No refuse collections will occur on Thurs., Nov. 26. Thursday's trash, food and yard waste and recycling collections will occur on Fri., Nov. 27. Friday condo trash and recycling collections will occur on Sat., Nov. 28.
 Don't forget to get your flu shot!
If you haven't yet received your flu shot this season, now's the time to do it! With COVID-19 still present in our community, getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever because it will help reduce the burden of flu illnesses, decrease hospitalizations, and help conserve scarce medical resources.
Upcoming flu vaccination event: The City has partnered with BlueCross BlueShield and Jewel-Osco to fight the flu by hosting a flu vaccination event in the Evanston Township High School parking lot, located east of Dodge Avenue and north of Lake Street, on Sunday, Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon. Registration is required.
 Shop small on Saturday, November 28
Kick off the holiday shopping season by supporting Evanston's small, local shops and business districts on National Small Business Saturday! Find special holiday deals and events in Downtown Evanston, Central Street, the Main-Dempster Mile, and Howard Street!
Helpful tip: Pick up a holiday parking voucher at participating Evanston businesses through Sun., Jan. 3. The voucher can be used for free two-hour parking at City meters and surface lots on the Park Evanston mobile app. You can also take advantage of 15 minute free parking zones marked by "Keep Calm" signs outside of designated businesses.
Take the pledge: Take the Evanston Takeout Pledge to support a local restaurant every week by ordering catering, takeout, or gift cards for later use!
Coronavirus update
Situation Report
Below, you’ll find the latest COVID-19 data from the City’s Health and Human Services Department. Visit the City’s interactive COVID-19 dashboard (view on mobile) for information and metrics updated daily. You can also view IDPH Restore Illinois indicators for Region 10, which includes Evanston.
Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigations Continue
To combat a surge in COVID-19 infections, Governor J.B. Pritzker and the IDPH announced Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigations statewide that went into effect on Friday, November 20 and will remain in effect until further notice.
Although the mitigations do not include a Stay-at-Home Order, residents are urged to limit gatherings and stay home as much as possible. Tier 3 measures include reducing capacity to 25 percent at retail businesses, personal care establishments and health and fitness centers and 50 percent at grocery stores and pharmacies, pausing indoor group recreational activities, and limiting in-home gatherings to household members only. In addition, individuals are now required to wear a face covering at all times while at health and fitness centers, including while actively exercising. See all Tier 3 Mitigations.
Confirmed daily cases have slightly decreased
 Evanston’s seven-day moving average of confirmed daily cases decreased to 32.43 new cases per day this week compared to 35.14 for the week prior. Thirty-eight new COVID-19 cases were reported today. Evanston has had 2,235 total confirmed cases to date, and 84 residents have died of illness or complications related to COVID-19.
Coronavirus infections continue to surge statewide and across the country. The seven-day average of new cases per 100,000 residents has decreased in Evanston (308.96), Skokie (588.82), Chicago (502.19), Cook County (547), and Illinois (621.03).
Testing and hospitalizations
The City’s seven-day moving average positivity rate increased to 6.2 percent, compared to 5.49 percent for the previous seven days. Although the positivity rate in Evanston is rising, it remains lower than the state (10.4 percent) and county (13.2 percent). COVID-19 hospital admissions continue to increase.
As a reminder, you can access free testing daily at the State's COVID-19 community-based testing sites, including the nearest Harwood Heights and Arlington Heights locations.
Mental health is essential
 How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your well-being? Mayor Hagerty’s COVID-19 Mental Health Task Force is conducting a short survey to better understand how residents are handling the COVID-19 crisis in Evanston. Your response to this confidential survey will help the task force support the community’s needs.
Take survey in English
Take survey in Spanish
 Support the Evanston Community Rapid Response Fund
Mayor Steve Hagerty has partnered with the Evanston Community Foundation in their effort to raise $2 million in two months to assist Evanston families most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who are struggling with housing, food insecurity and other unmet basic needs.
If you are able, please donate online or send a check to the Evanston Community Foundation, 1560 Sherman Ave., Ste. 535, Evanston, IL 60201 to make your contribution to the Evanston Community Rapid Response Fund by December 31.
More news and events
2021 Budget approved
The Fiscal Year 2021 Budget was adopted by City Council on Mon., Nov. 23. Summary documents are available online and a full adopted budget document will be published at a later date.
Getting rid of those old holiday lights?
Recycle your old holiday string lighting and extension cords through the City's annual holiday light recycling program, from December 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021.
Amnesty Gun Buyback Event, December 5
An amnesty gun buyback event will be held at Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 1711 Simpson St., on Sat., Dec. 5, from noon to 4 p.m. $100 per gun will be provided. This is an amnesty-based program; there will be no arrests.
Compost through the winter!
Want to continue composting after weekly food and yard waste collections end? Check out Collective Resource Compost's Winter Gap program for weekly or biweekly pickup options in Evanston.
Get Engaged
Community Calendar
It was a bright night for the arts
 Members of the Evanston Township High School (ETHS) Men's Basketball Team paint "Black Lives Matter" in front of the school on Dodge Avenue.
That’s it for today's e-news. Have a safe Thanksgiving and enjoy the weekend!
Sincerely,
The City of Evanston Communications Team
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