Thursday, December 23, 2021 | View in browser
Good evening,
Read below for information about a new fire engine donated by Northwestern University, the appointment of an interim police chief, and two upcoming opportunities to provide feedback on Evanston's next city manager.
Plus, get the latest Evanston COVID-19 update and meet a City staffer who's competing on 'Wheel of Fortune' tonight.
 Pierce Enforcer Pumper Truck
Northwestern donates $800K for new fire engine
The City of Evanston and the Evanston Fire Department are thrilled to announce that Northwestern University has provided an $800,000 donation to the City to fund the purchase of a new fire engine. The 2022 Pierce Enforcer Pumper Truck, to be delivered in late 2022, will help meet a critical need of the Evanston Fire Department and enhance safety for all who live, work and study here. Thanks, NU!
 Eddington appointed interim police chief
He's back! Former Evanston Police Chief Richard Eddington will return to Evanston to serve as interim police chief starting January 3. Eddington served as Evanston police chief from 2007 through 2018, overseeing a 40 percent decrease in major crimes and working to strengthen police-community relationships. Learn more about Interim Chief Eddington.
 Meet the city manager candidate finalists
Following a nationwide recruitment process, the City Council has narrowed its search for Evanston's next city manager to two finalists, who will be announced during the week of January 3.
You can meet the candidates, ask questions, and provide feedback by participating in a virtual town hall meeting or applying to be part of a community interview panel. Learn more about the city manager search process.
 Holiday service and facility schedules
Ok, so there's no snow (yet), but the holidays are here. Read below for holiday service changes, tree pickup, and changes to upcoming events.
Service and facility changes
The Morton Civic Center will be closed on Fri., Dec. 24 and Fri., Dec. 31 for the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Trash and recycling pickups will occur as normally scheduled this week and next. Learn more about holiday facility closures and service changes.
Holiday tree pickup
The City will pick up Christmas trees beginning Mon., Jan. 3 through Fri., Jan. 28 on residents' regular refuse collection days. Review holiday tree pickup guidelines.
City events
Kwanzaa Celebrations: Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases, the City's Kinara Lighting and Kwanzaa Festival and Storytelling Event on Sun., Dec. 26 will be virtual.
Winter Wonderland: Tonight's planned community event at the Robert Crown Community Center has been canceled.
COVID-19 Update
 Click to enlarge.
Cases: Evanston reported 839 new confirmed COVID-19 cases over the last seven days, compared to 311 for the week prior. To date, Evanston has had 7,167 total confirmed cases, and 128 residents have died of illness or complications related to COVID-19.
COVID-19 cases continue to increase locally and across the state, reaching all-time highs. All of Illinois is currently considered to be an area of high transmission. View state COVID-19 metrics.
Positivity rate: The City’s seven-day moving average positivity rate is 6.64 percent.
Hospitalizations: View local COVID-19 hospitalizations over the last month.
Vaccinations: 92.4 percent of residents 5 years and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 83.7 percent are fully vaccinated. View the City’s updated data dashboard (view on mobile) for the latest Evanston-specific vaccination data from the IDPH.
FAQs
Will Evanston restaurants and entertainment venues require patrons to be vaccinated, like in Chicago and suburban Cook County?
This week, the City of Chicago announced that anyone five years or older will be required to show proof of full vaccination to dine inside at restaurants or visit gyms and entertainment venues beginning January 3. Today, the Cook County Department of Public Health issued a similar order.
Evanston has its own certified public health department and is not subject to Cook County’s order. The City is reviewing the County’s plan and will make a determination next week as to whether this would be an effective mitigation measure in Evanston.
At this time, Evanston businesses are encouraged to require patrons to be vaccinated and/or show proof of a negative test result within 24 hours. Currently, 83.7 percent of Evanston residents five years and older are fully vaccinated, compared to 68 percent in Chicago.
Is it still safe to gather with family for the holidays?
If you’re fully vaccinated, and especially if you’ve had your booster shot, you continue to be well protected from severe illness from COVID-19, including from the delta and omicron variants.
While every individual and family has a unique set of risks and circumstances that may factor into how they choose to celebrate the holidays, there are a few measures we can all take to minimize our risks and reduce the spread of COVID-19:
- Get vaccinated and get a booster shot when you’re eligible
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Get tested if you have symptoms or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19
- Stay home if you’re sick
- Wear a mask in public indoor spaces
- Maintain a six-foot distance from those who don’t live with you
- Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces. Increase ventilation indoors (open windows) and celebrate outdoors when possible
- Wash your hands frequently
- If you’re not fully vaccinated, avoid large gatherings with those outside of your household
See the CDC’s guidelines for safer holiday celebrations.
Changes to contact tracing
Since the start of the pandemic, the Evanston Health & Human Services Department has conducted contact tracing to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community. Starting December 28, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will shift contact tracing from local health departments to the state, centralizing efforts through its Surge Contact Tracing Call Center.
How you’ll be contacted: Starting Tues., Dec. 28, Evanston residents who test positive will receive a text message from the IDPH Surge Contact Tracing Call Center. The message will state: IL COVID HELP: The IL state health department may try to reach you. Call 312-777-1999 with questions or go to: https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/data/contact-tracing.html
Protecting your privacy: Information you share with public health workers is confidential and will be kept private. Public health staff will never ask for money, debit/credit/bank account information, social security numbers, or immigration status.
How the City’s role will shift: The City’s Health & Human Services Department will continue to manage contact tracing for congregate living facilities, including long-term care centers, shelters, and senior living facilities. In addition, staff will be able to prioritize efforts on identifying and managing outbreaks in Evanston and providing disease control measures to schools and daycare facilities.
Need assistance? Evanston Health & Human Services continues to support our residents. If you need additional support or clarification after reaching out to the IDPH Surge Contact Tracing Call Center, please email health@cityofevanston.org or call 847-448-4311.
More news and events
Stay safe this holiday season!
The Evanston Fire Department has provided tips to stay safe throughout the holiday and winter season.
Help support free access to Evanston beaches
To ensure that all community members can access and enjoy Evanston's public swimming beaches, the City will provide free admission for all Evanston residents seven days a week during the 2022 season! You can help support free access to Evanston beaches by donating to the City's Beach Operations Fund.
Get Engaged
Community Calendar
Tune in tonight: City staffer competes on 'Wheel of Fortune'
 When she's not helping improve City services as an intern in the City Manager's Office, you might find Alyssa Tillmon buying vowels on one of her favorite shows, "Wheel of Fortune."
Tune in to ABC7 tonight at 6:30 p.m. to cheer on Alyssa as she lives her dream of being a contestant on the show!
That’s it for today's e-news. Thanks for reading and happy holidays!
Sincerely,
The City of Evanston Communications Team
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