Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020   |   View in browser

State to Implement Additional Resurgence Mitigations to Combat Surge in COVID-19 Infections

In-home gatherings limited to household members only, capacity reduced at retail and service establishments

EVANSTON, IL - To combat a surge in COVID-19 infections, Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced new statewide COVID-19 resurgence mitigations effective 12:01 a.m. on Friday, November 20.

The Tier 3 mitigations are intended to suppress the spread of the virus and ensure that hospitals do not become overrun. According to the IDPH, COVID-19 spread is now exponential in every region of the state, Illinois' statewide positivity rate is at record highs, and hospitalizations are surpassing the state's spring peak. 

Although these new mitigations do not include a Stay-at-Home Order, residents are urged to limit gatherings and stay home as much as possible. Tier 3 mitigation 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. (See Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigations.)

Childcare facilities may continue to operate subject to guidelines from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). School districts are encouraged to follow guidance released by IDPH and the Illinois State Board of Education in August 2020 and make decisions at the local level. 

Evanston community centers will remain open; however, all indoor athletic programs, including ice activities, and facility rentals will pause in accordance with Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigations. Camp and non-athletic programs will continue while following all public health guidelines. Outdoor group activities will be limited to 10 persons or fewer.

Evanston’s Health & Human Services Department will be monitoring compliance with the mitigation measures. Residents may call or text 847-448-4311 to report any issues or concerns.

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, Evanston’s Health & Human Services Department urges residents to continue following public health guidelines, including:

• Stay home as much as possible
• Refrain from hosting or attending social gatherings with those who do not live in your household
• Maintain a distance of at least six feet from those outside of your household
• Wear a face covering over your nose and mouth in public settings (indoors and outdoors) when social distancing is not practical
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly
• Stay home if you’re experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or if you’ve been in close contact with a person infected with COVID-19
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces

In addition, residents are encouraged to get a flu shot to prevent illness from influenza and to preserve scarce medical resources.

IDPH will continue to track the positivity rates and hospital capacity metrics in regions over a 14-day monitoring period to determine if mitigations can be relaxed, if additional mitigations are required, or if current mitigations should remain in place. 

A full list of mitigation measures pertaining to some businesses and industries may be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) website at dceocovid19resources.com/restore-illinois.

For Evanston-specific COVID-19 information, visit cityofevanston.org/covid19 or call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 311 in Evanston.

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