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Dear Lake County resident,
As the dreariness of winter melts away, we can’t help but feel excited over what is to come in the next several weeks. Our county’s COVID-19 rates are holding steady at levels that we saw last summer and we want them to decrease further. We are also busy preparing for a long-awaited increase in our vaccine supply. We have many partners ready and waiting to rapidly scale up vaccination efforts across the county – from mobile units taking vaccines to senior living communities. New vaccination sites are preparing to open up by early April when more vaccine is available, and we all will be able to breathe easier as it becomes less and less difficult to schedule an appointment.
Thursday marked one-year since our first confirmed COVID-19 case in Lake County. What a challenging year it has been for everyone! We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve our community through this crisis. As spring arrives, we hope you will enjoy getting outdoors to enjoy fresh air. Take a socially-distanced walk with a friend at a local park or one of our beautiful Lake County Forest Preserves. As we wait for the day in which this pandemic is just a memory, we ask that you remain committed to the 3 Ws – Wear a mask, Wash your hands, and Watch your distance. We know these steps are effective at protecting ourselves and our families. We must stay vigilant as we work toward our goal of 80% of our population being vaccinated.
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As of March 12, over 180,700 vaccine doses have been administered to Lake County residents and 61,583 residents (8.79% of the population) have been fully vaccinated. The county is averaging 5,149 doses administered per day on a 7-day rolling average, a 19.5% increase from last week.
- On March 11, we reached a milestone of over 50 percent of Lake County seniors age 65 and older having received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This week alone, we have opened up vaccine appointments to over 12,000 additional seniors who are registered in AllVax. The pace of vaccinations will continue to increase as vaccine supply increases. Read the press release
- Our vaccination partners continue to assist us in vaccinating seniors, healthcare workers, Pre-K through 12th grade staff, daycare workers, and manufacturing employees. We have several additional corporations, healthcare providers, and community partners lined up, ready and waiting to receive supply of vaccine. To explore the many options available for getting your vaccine, visit www.lakecountyil.gov/vaccine.
- Our Lake County Fairgrounds mass vaccination site is now operating 6 days per week. Starting next Wednesday, Illinois National Guard and their contractual nurses will assist with providing vaccinations at this site, helping us to increase our daily capacity and free up our existing staff to serve at other locations in the county. Vaccinations appointments at the fairgrounds site are being offered to seniors, first responders, daycare workers, and the remainder of those eligible in Phase 1a.
On March 8, the CDC release updated guidance for those that have been fully vaccinated. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or 2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson). Fully vaccinated people can visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing.
It is still encouraged to continue to avoid medium and large in-person gatherings. Fully vaccinated people may also visit with unvaccinated people from a single household, indoors, if they are at a low risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms. Masks and social distancing are not required in that situation. Travel guidance has not changed and is still discouraged unless necessary.
Fully vaccinated people should continue to take precautions in public by follow the 3 Ws – Wear a mask, Wash your hands, and Watch your distance.
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Am I able to walk-in for a vaccine?
No. At this time, walk-in appointments are not available at the Lake County Health Department vaccine clinics. Because vaccine supply is limited, COVID-19 vaccines are being provided by appointment only. After registering in the AllVax Portal, you will receive an email when it is time to schedule your appointment. You will only receive an email to schedule when you are eligible, there is vaccine supply, and appointments are available.
My phase is currently eligible, why haven't I received an email to schedule my vaccine?
The AllVax system does not send emails to everyone in a phase at the same time. Appointments are offered as the Health Department receives supply of vaccine. You will receive an email to schedule when you are eligible, and there is vaccine supply and an appointment available.
For a full list of who is eligible in each phase, visit Lake County's COVID-19 Vaccine page.
Which vaccine will I receive?
The vaccine you receive is based on CDC guidance and availability. You cannot make a request for a specific type of vaccine. The right vaccine is the first vaccine that is made available to you. If receiving a two dose vaccine, it is recommended that you get the same brand of vaccine for both doses. AllVax will help track which vaccine you get so you receive the correct second dose. All authorized vaccines have undergone clinical trials to ensure that they are safe and effective. Learn more on the CDC’s website about the Different COVID-19 Vaccines.
For answers to more commonly asked question, please visit the AllVax Frequently Asked Questions page.
Individuals of any age can contract and spread COVID-19. Several outbreaks within Lake County have recently been linked to youth social gatherings outside of school. Often times, these gatherings do not observe social distancing guidelines or mask wearing. It is important for parents to remind their children to follow the 3 Ws – Wear a mask, Wash your hands, and Watch your distance. We must remain vigilant until we reach herd immunity. Following these guidelines will ensure the health of yourself and those around you.
Vaccines received by the Lake County Health Department get distributed among our healthcare partners. These partners include hospitals, mass vaccination clinics, healthcare providers, pharmacies, large employers, community health centers, and mobile vaccine clinics.
Some vaccine providers get their vaccines from the state (IDPH) or the Federal government. Vaccinating our population is a massive effort. Many providers are working together to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. More providers are coming on board every week, and we are prepared for the surge of vaccine supply. Our community has one goal and that is to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to anyone that wants it. Each week, we move closer toward our goal of vaccinating 80% of Lake County.
Be wary of contact tracing scams. Scammers are impersonating contact tracers to gain access to your financial and private information. Here what you need to know to prevent becoming a victim:
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Identify themselves by name, where they work, and why they are calling
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Ask about your symptoms and when they started
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Inquire about medical and travel history
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Ask if there are others living in your household
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Ask about the places you have been while possibly being infectious
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Request contact information of your close contacts during your infectious timeframe
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Request your date of birth, race and ethnicity, and address
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Never reveal the identity of a patient to others without express consent
Contact tracers will never:
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Demand your bank account or credit card number. Never share your financial information with anyone who calls you
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Ask for money or payment in any form. This includes gift cards, money transfers or cryptocurrency
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Ask you to verify your social security, driver’s license or passport number in whole or in part
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Request information on your immigration status
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Threaten you if you do not comply with their inquiries or requests
If you receive a suspicious call, text message, or email from a person claiming to be a contact tracer, you can confirm its legitimacy through the Lake County Health Department’s Communicable Disease program at 847-377-8130. Do not open any attachments or links from an email or text message. It may embed a virus or malware onto your electronic device.
If you think you have been a victim of a scam, please contact your local police department or the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office at 847-377-3000.
Appointments for the United Center vaccination site were originally available to all Illinois residents. On Sunday, March 7, eligibility changed to only allow Chicago residents the ability to schedule appointments at the United Center. A certain amount of appointments will soon open to Cook County residents as well. This change was made to ensure enough Chicago residents are able to get an appointment. Any appointment booked by Illinois residents, outside of Chicago, before this change was implemented will be honored.
Visit the Health Departments How to Register page for four ways Lake County residents can register for a COVID-19 vaccine.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has it, getting tested can help you know what steps to take to keep your loved ones safe.
Where can I get tested?
State-run Community-Based Testing Sites located in Waukegan (102 W. Water St.), Arlington Heights (2000 W Euclid Ave.), and Rockford (1601 Parkview Ave.) are open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Testing is free and open to all regardless of symptoms. These sites have drive-through testing, as well as walk-up testing for those who do not have a vehicle or need to use public transportation. Please note, you are not permitted to exit your car to use the walk-up line once you arrive.
Know Before You Go
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 IDPH website.
As of March 12, 2021, XX,XXX Lake County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, including XXX 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
A partir del DD de month de YYYY, XX,XXX los residentes del Condado de Lake han dado positivo por COVID-19, incluidas las muertes XXX.
Nuestro centro de colección de datos del Condado de Lake provee datos y recursos para nuestro condado. Esto incluye casos y muertes, pruebas tomadas, datos demográficos, y un mapa interactivo con graficas.
Vea el centro de colección de datos aquí.
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
Lake County AllVax Portal Resources
Visit our AllVax Frequently Asked Questions page to find answers and information about the COVID-19 vaccine in Lake County. Encourage members of the community to register in AllVax utilizing resources from the AllVax Portal Toolkit, including social media messages, guides, print materials, and more.
Community Guidance and Resources
Protect yourself and your community. Our Community Guidance and Resources page has information to help residents stay safe and informed. Specific group information can be found for:
- Businesses and employers
- Communities and faith-based organizations
- First responders and law enforcement
- Healthcare providers and hospitals
- Schools and childcare programs
- Travelers
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 communication resources including fact sheets, flyers, posters, and videos.
Join the Medical Reserve Corps
The Lake County Health Department is in need of volunteers with a valid medical license to fill roles as vaccinators, vaccine mixers, and wellness check observers at our mass vaccination sites. Visit our Lake County Medical Reserve Corps page to learn more.
Become a Community Health Ambassador
Community Health Ambassadors play a key role in helping our community members get vaccinated by sharing resources, answering FAQs, and encouraging community members to register on AllVax. Visit the Community Health Ambassador page for more information and to register.
Additional Ways to Help
Visit Lake County Health Departments How You Can Help page to find additional opportunities to donate or volunteer.
Forwarded this email? Sign up to receive COVID-19 updates directly from the Lake County Health Department.
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