Friday, October 2, 2020 ● Volume 1, Issue 31
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NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
The COVID-19 Weekly Update will provide current information and resources for DuPage County. We encourage you to share this widely through our community. To subscribe and receive weekly local updates on COVID-19, please fill out this form.
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Illinois Department of Public Health
Halloween Guidance
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As we enter fall, families are starting to plan for the upcoming holiday season, starting with Halloween. Because some of the traditional ways to celebrate this holiday do not allow for proper social distancing, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is providing the following guidance to allow for safe Halloween celebrations. Trick-or-treating events need to incorporate social distancing, masking, and proper handwashing, as well as adherence to event size limitations. For this year, it would be safest to plan special events at home, using social media and other meeting platforms to connect with family and friends. However, for those who choose to celebrate in person IDPH is offering the following guidance. Please reference your local health department, village/city, or county information for guidance or policies specific to your location as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers additional guidance.
As a reminder, if you think you could have COVID-19 or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters. Individuals at increased risk for severe illness should not attend in-person Halloween gatherings.
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Health Department Emphasizes the Importance of Getting A Flu Shot During COVID-19 Pandemic |
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DUPAGE COUNTY— This year, it is more important than ever for residents to get their influenza (flu) shot as we battle COVID-19, a different viral respiratory illness that can result in severe outcomes including hospitalization and death. While a vaccine for COVID-19 is still under development, there is a vaccine for flu that has been proven to be safe and effective over the past 50 years. Each season, millions of Americans are sickened with flu, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized, and tens of thousands die. Getting a flu vaccine can help you avoid coinfection with COVID-19 and flu, which may prevent even more severe illness.
“The best protection we have against the flu is the flu vaccine. Call your health care provider or local pharmacy to get yours today and help lower your risk of co-infection with flu and COVID-19,” said Karen Ayala, Health Department Executive Director.
In Illinois, influenza season typically starts in the fall and the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) recommends everyone six months of age and older get vaccinated against flu. The vaccine is available in either a flu shot, or in a nasal spray. Talk with a health care provider about what type is most appropriate for you. More information on the types of flu vaccine can be found on the CDC website.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Every week, the DuPage County Health Department will be sharing the most frequently asked questions about the coronavirus pandemic to help educate and inform county residents. For the week of September 28, 2020, our Business Response Team received the following questions:
Q1. My staff member tested positive for COVID-19; when can they return to work? Additionally, a few of my employees were close contacts to the positive case. Do they need to do anything? If they test negative can they come back to work?
Your positive staff member must isolate through a minimum of 10 days after their symptom onset date (or through 10 days after their first positive diagnostic test date, if without symptoms). Isolation may be discontinued after those 10 days as long as they at least 24 hours have passed without a fever (without use fever-reducing medicine) and their COVID-19 symptoms are improving.
Close contacts must quarantine for 14 days from their last exposure to the person with COVID-19. They MAY NOT return sooner than 14 days, even if they test negative for COVID-19.
Q2. Am I required to report COVID-19 cases to the DuPage County Health Department? Doesn’t the doctor’s office report this to you?
Yes, you are required to report any COVID-19 case that you are aware of associated with your business/workplace. Doctors’ offices and testing sites do report cases to the health department for the jurisdiction where they reside, but we want to ensure that we don’t miss a single case. Additionally, the Health Department wants to discuss next steps with a business that has a COVID-19 case and provide educational materials and public health recommendations in a timely manner. If you have more than one case in your facility within a 14 day period, that may be considered an outbreak and we will work with you regarding reporting and next steps.
Please see link for information on reporting rules:
Q3. Where can I find additional resources for places/events other than restaurant guidance?
You can find many helpful resources at the links below:
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New Communication Resources Added |
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During this pandemic, the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) continues to provide various educational resources for the public. These resources promote preventive actions people should practice, every day, to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Some resources have been printed and distributed in the community. Other resources have been shared on digital platforms. Additionally, the materials and resources are available on the DCHD website at www.dupagehealth.org/covid19.
To amplify these important messages, the Health Department would appreciate your support in sharing this information within your communities and organizations. For convenience, DCHD has created a comprehensive resource toolkit for stakeholders to access the COVID-19 print and digital resources that are available. View the COVID-19 Education and Outreach Resource toolkit.
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COVID-19 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES |
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Flu Vaccine Voucher Program DuPage County |
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This year, it’s more important than ever to make sure everyone in your family gets a flu vaccine. Getting your flu shot will help to keep you, your family, and your community safe and can help you avoid co-infection of COVID-19 and the flu.
The DuPage Health Coalition is joining partners in DuPage County to make it easier for all of individuals to stay healthy and flu-free. With funding provided by DuPage County, DHC is offering free flu vaccine vouchers to uninsured DuPage County residents whose financial circumstances make it difficult to get their annual flu shot.
Vouchers will be sent to individuals who request them (by email or mail) and can be redeemed at any DuPage County Walgreens until December 31st, while supplies last.
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DuPage County Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Site |
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DuPage County is offering community-based COVID-19 drive-thru testing at the DuPage County Complex. The entrance is located on County Farm Road a few blocks North of Roosevelt Road at a stoplight. Follow the signs through the campus to the test site.
The testing site is open Monday through Friday from 7 am until noon or until the daily test capacity of 600 is reached.No appointment, symptoms or insurance is required.
For more information about the testing site or what to expect, please click here.
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Pillars Community Health
COVID-19 Testing in Willowbrook
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Pillars Community Health offers drive-up testing for COVID-19 across the street from Burr Ridge Middle School in Burr Ridge.
Limited tests available; appointment required; please call 708-PILLARS (708-745-5277) .
Testing is available on Tuesdays 9 am-Noon and Thursdays from 9 am-1 pm to
anyone with symptoms of COVID-19; or anyone with a known exposure to COVID-19 (have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19); or asymptomatic, high-risk patients, first responders, health care workers, or essential workers who wish to be tested.
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VNA Health Care COVID-19 Testing |
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VNA Health Care offers COVID-19 testing by appointment only to new and existing patients with or without symptoms.
Community mobile testing clinics are also available in Bensenville and West Chicago through VNA Health Care.
VNA Mobile Clinic at St. Alexis Catholic Church
400 W Wood Ave, Bensenville, IL, 60106
VNA Mobile Clinic at St. Andrew's Church
155 N Prince Crossing Rd, West Chicago, IL, 60185
To schedule an appointment, call (630) 892-4355 or (847) 717-6455.
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Illinois COVID-19 Hotline and Email Address |
If you have questions about Coronavirus - Call the Illinois Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Hotline:
Both are available anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Friday, October 2, 2020 ● Volume 1, Issue 31
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