 On Tuesday, the State and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that all regions in the State would move into Tier 3 mitigations—measures implemented to slow the spread of the virus—as of 12:01 a.m. today, November 20, 2020.
Tier 3 mitigations focus on limiting indoor gatherings where COVID-19 is most likely to spread. This means limiting social gatherings to members of your immediate household only, as well as restrictions on retail, personal care, health and fitness centers, hotels, manufacturing, bars and restaurants, meetings and events, recreational activities, theaters and cultural institutions.
Over the past month, we have seen the incidence rate in Lake County quadruple. We urge all residents to avoid social gatherings and stay home as much as possible. Click to edit this placeholder text.
 We are less than one week away from Thanksgiving. If you get infected with COVID-19 between now and then — symptoms or no symptoms — you could bring the virus to your family gathering. Please consider alternative celebrations to protect those you love. It is safest to only gather in person with those who live in your household.
Follow the 3 Ws every single time you are around others — Wear a mask, Wash your hands, Watch your distance. Learn more about staying safe this holiday season.
 Every week, the Lake County Health Department will be sharing the most frequently asked questions about the coronavirus pandemic. This week, we received the following questions:
Where can I get tested for COVID-19?
Saturday, 11/21, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Round Lake High School
800 High School Dr., Round Lake
Wednesday, 11/25, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
WALK UP ONLY TEST SITE
Highwood Public Library
102 Highwood Ave., Highwood
Saturday, 12/5, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
College of Lake County
19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake
Sunday, 12/6, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Grant Community High School - South Lot
285 Grand Ave., Fox Lake
Monday, 12/7, 8 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Knox Park
1155 E Main St, Lake Zurich
Monday, 12/14, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
College of Lake County
19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake
Testing is free and open to all regardless of symptoms. A phone number and name are required in order to receive testing results. Photo identification and proof of insurance are helpful, but not required. High demand for testing may result in long wait times. Testing locations may close early due to inclement weather or if daily testing supplies are exhausted. Additional COVID-19 testing locations and information can be found at the Lake County Health Department or Illinois Department of Health websites.
How long will I have to wait to receive my results?
Due to increased demands, please expect to wait between 5-7 days for your test results.
If you were recently tested at a mobile COVID-19 testing site and it's been longer than 7 days and you have not been contacted, please call them at 888-297-7208 or visit https://idph-mychart.pchosted.com/idph/Authentication/Login.
What do I do while I am waiting to receive my results?
While you are waiting for your results to come back, it is important to take precautions and quarantine. Even if the result is negative, you should still quarantine for 14 days following exposure to COVID-19. For more information on testing and how to quarantine, please visit the CDC page on How to Quarantine.
The CDC recommends that everyone use masks to protect against the transmission of COVID-19. Not only do masks help to reduce the release of droplets from an infected person, but they also help reduce the respiratory droplets you inhale. COVID-19 is most commonly transmitted by respiratory droplets created when people cough, sneeze, sing, talk or breathe. Multiple layers of cloth with higher thread counts perform better than single layers of cloth with lower thread counts.
Learn more about how a mask protects you on the CDC page on the Use of Masks to Control the Spread.
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Today, our Health Department launched new features to our Coronavirus Data Hub as a resource to help Lake County residents better understand the impact of the pandemic on our communities. Since pandemic began, we have been working to provide meaningful data. Based on feedback from the community, these new features include:
- Case trends
- Case demographics
- Death demographics
- Testing and hospitalizations
The Data Hub is updated Mondays through Fridays. View it here: lakecountyil.gov/covid19data
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 On November 16, pharmaceutical company Moderna announced that their COVID-19 vaccine that is currently in Phase 3 of testing and was found to be 94.5% more than 95%%% effective. This vaccine, if approved, will end up requiring two doses. Moderna is seeking emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, which is likely to happen at the beginning of December.
Pfizer announced on Wednesday that their vaccine is 95% effective at preventing COVID-19.
Extensive testing and trials are done to make sure a vaccine is safe and effective. Once a vaccine is approved, it will also take time to manufacture and distribute. As we wait for a vaccine, we need to continue to take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Learn more about vaccine standards at the CDC page on Vaccine Safety in the United States.
Lake County COVID-19 Cases
As of November 20, 2020, 31,060 Lake County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, including 570 deaths.
Our Coronavirus Data Hub provides data and resources for our county, including cases and deaths, tests performed, demographic data, and an interactive map and charts.
View the Lake County, IL Coronavirus Data Hub
Mask Design Contest
The Asociacion Comunitaria Latina (ACL) is sponsoring a mask-design contest for middle, high school and college students from the Lake County area. The chosen design will appear on 5,000 face coverings and will be distributed throughout Lake County. The winner can choose to have 500 of the masksand 500 bottles of hand sanitizer go to their school or any other charitable organization of their choice.
Design submissions can be in JPEG or TIFF form and submitted to the Asociacion Comunitaria Latina through Facebook Messenger by November 22.
Read the Chicago Tribune article for more details.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
The CDC recently released a report highlighting the importance of avoiding large gatherings. A wedding reception attended by 55 people in Maine led to 177 COVID-19 cases that traced back to the event. Of the 55 people that attended the wedding, 30 of them contracted COVID-19. Additional outbreaks occurred within the local community including a long-term care facility 100 miles away and a correctional facility 200 miles away. Of the 177 cases, there were 7 deaths.
This experience highlights many important issues:
- COVID-19 can spread at social gatherings, especially during prolonged close contact.
- If you have been exposed or feel ill, please stay home.
- It is important to follow the 3 Ws: Wear a mask, Wash your hands, Watch your distance.
Read the full report here.
Do you have questions? The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has established a COVID-19 hotline and email address to answer questions from the public:
For additional information from the IDPH, visit: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus
Community Guidance and Resources
Protect yourself and your community. Our Information for Specific Groups page is now Community Guidance and Resources. This page is more user-friendly and has information to help residents stay safe and informed.
Communication Resources
We need your help to keep our communities healthy and safe. The Lake County Health Department, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer free resources including fact sheets, flyers, posters, and videos.
View communication resources
Forwarded this email? Sign up to receive COVID-19 updates directly from the Lake County Health Department.
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