March 17, 2020
Dear Neighbor,
Please find below what we are aware of regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in Lake County. Lake County Government and the Lake County Health Department are working tirelessly to take all appropriate steps to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our community.
Our Health Department is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to monitor this fast-changing outbreak. Regular updates and resources are being posted to www.lakecountyil.gov/coronavirus, and to our social media accounts. The website includes information for individuals, businesses, communities, healthcare providers, schools and travelers.
Please find more information below. While these are unsettling times, our community is strong and resilient. If we all work together to diligently follow the advice and best practices outlined by our public health experts, we WILL be able to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Please stay safe, stay at home, and stay well.
The Latest Updates
CASES IN LAKE COUNTY
As of 1:00 pm Tuesday, March 17, eight Lake County residents have tested positive for COVID-19. This new number includes at least one case that does not appear to be related to travel or to close contact with an infected person.
If you or someone you know are exhibiting symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath), DO NOT walk into a healthcare facility, urgent care clinic, or hospital before calling. If a medical professional believes that you need to be tested for COVID-19, they should call the Lake County Health Department Communicable Disease program to arrange for you to be assessed.
|
ECONOMIC IMPACTS: Millions of people and thousands of businesses have been impacted by COVID-19. The Governor’s Office is working with the Small Business Administration to fulfill the requirements necessary so that businesses and non-profits in Illinois can begin to access the application to receive low-interest loans (3.57% and 2.75%, respectively) and other resources. Once we have confirmation that the application is live on the SBA federal website we will communicate that out to the public.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: Individuals without access to paid sick leave or unable to work due to COVID-19 can apply for unemployment insurance under the administration's expansion. The governor's executive order waives the 7-day waiting period for residents to apply for unemployment benefits, meaning anyone who qualifies can file and become immediately eligible instead of experiencing a week-long lag during this challenging time.
UTILITY RELIEF: Gov. Pritzker and Attorney General Raoul have urged the Illinois Commerce Commission to immediately institute a moratorium on shutoffs for all utility companies across Illinois - including energy, telecommunications and water - until the state disaster proclamation has been lifted. The administration is also requesting changes to payment and collection policies to ensure Illinoisans aren't saddled with utility debt as a result of COVID-19. Several have announced plans to maintain services and waive late payment fees.
FOOD ACCESS: The cancellation of schools hits low-income families who rely on free and reduced school breakfast and lunch programs particularly hard. It will also impact workers who are experiencing reduced wages. The Illinois State Board of Education obtained a waiver from the federal government to continue distributing meals to all children who qualify for free and reduced lunch. Please contact your local school district for more information.
Local food banks will continue to be a source for people in need, and we expect that they will have more customers than ever before. To help or get help, you can visit www.solvehungertoday.org.
LAKE COUNTY 211: If you need assistance with food, healthcare, payment of utility bills, etc., please reach out to United Way of Lake County’s free, confidential 211 service through any of the following:
You will be immediately connected with a trained counselor who can connect you with the help you need.
|
RESTAURANTS and BARS: Until at least March 30, 2020, all businesses in Illinois that offer food or beverages for on-premises consumption - including restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and food halls - must suspend service for and may not permit on-premises consumption.
However, they are permitted and encouraged to allow customers to purchase food or beverages for delivery or carry-out service. Businesses located in airports, hospitals, and college/university dining halls are exempt.
The Lake Forest Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce has created a webpage listing all establishments that offer take-out options. I encourage residents to continue to patronize local businesses, as this public health crisis is having a devastating effect on them.
|
DISASTER PROCLAMATION
On Friday, March 13, I signed a proclamation that will allow Lake County to access additional state and federal funding and resources for coronavirus (COVID-19) response efforts. The proclamation is a proactive, procedural step that will ensure the County is able to access the resources, equipment and personnel needed to address changing circumstances. This is particularly necessary should (when) the number of COVID-19 cases rise and the demands on County staff and partners continue to increase.
The proclamation also triggers the activation of the Lake County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which occurred Monday morning, March 16. This allows for county staff to coordinate all the county's efforts in one focal point. Our Emergency Response staff are well trained and accustomed to working in ever changing situations (ie, the floods in 2013, 2015, and 2017) and have proven their expertise in past disasters. However, this pandemic is certainly different, and our staff is learning from what is occurring across the country and the world.
Also on Monday, the Lake County Board held a Special Call meeting to extend the emergency proclamation from seven days to forty-five days. This change came about via a recommendation of the Board of Health of the Lake County Health Department (LCHD). This extension will assist Lake County, through the Emergency Management Agency (which operates the EOC) and the LCHD, to coordinate county and municipal resources and response activities. It also suspends certain provisions and procedures pertaining to county business in an effort to protect the health and safety of Lake County residents and provide emergency assistance.
Lake County has been a leader in our response to COVID-19, and was the third county in the state to sign an emergency declaration. We received a nice note from the Illinois Association of County Board Members thanking Lake County for sharing our disaster proclamation so that smaller counties across the state-which do not have the same level of resources-can react and begin the process of providing emergency services to their residents.
LAKE COUNTY GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES
During this crisis it is critically important to keep residents and Lake County employees safe. In order to minimize exposure and possible spread of COVID-19 while continuing to provide the full scope of services to Lake County residents, Lake County departments are:
- Maximizing remote work and alternate work hours and the use of virtual meetings and collaboration tools.
- Maximizing social distancing in work spaces in the office
- Maximize cleaning and disinfection of public facing areas, and thoroughly cleaning any multi-person workstations after each shift.
- Minimizing and/or stopping in-person meetings - internally and externally.
- Limiting public-facing counter services and utilizing alternate methods to serve the public to include email / fax forms, drop box, phone call, electronic payment, etc.
The public will be kept informed of any changes that will significantly impact access to Lake County Government services. Departments are all participating in once or twice daily conference call internally, as well as with the state, which at this time occurs every other day, to stay apprised of any changes.
|
JAIL AND COVID-19
I have received a number of questions from residents regarding what happens if/when a person with COVID-19 is in our jail. The Sheriff's Office has been working with their medical provider since February on heightened precautionary measures to ensure the safety of those in custody. These include:
- Any one that is booked into the jail undergoes heightened screening by the medical provider, including temperature checks and comprehensive medical intake. Any remanded individual does not go directly into general population, but is kept separate from the general population for seven days in the classification unit for monitoring.
- Detained individuals who begin to exhibit symptoms, or who are believed to have been exposed, will be isolated in a medical isolation cell until transport to a local hospital.
- The Lake County Health Department will be notified if there is an inmate under investigation for COVID-19.
- Jail staff is ensuring proper inventory of cleaning supplies and protective personal equipment for correctional staff.
- All inmate programming and volunteer activities has been suspended to
prevent any possible external sources of exposure.
Health Department Recommendations to Reduce the Spread of Disease
|
Practice the 3 C’s: Clean, Cover and Contain
- CLEAN hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
|
|
 |
- COVER your cough and sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash; and
- CONTAIN germs by staying home if you are sick, except to receive medical care, and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
If you would like to receive email updates about the Coronavirus from the Lake County Health Department, you may sign up at this link.
Anyone with questions on COVID-19 may contact the Illinois Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email:
DPH.SICK@ILLINOIS.GOV.
| 
