E-Newsletter: January 7, 2022
State Surges Mass Vaccination Operations Statewide
to Meet COVID Booster Demand 

 Community Based Testing Sites will expand operations to increase testing availability in Illinois  
 
Governor JB Pritzker has directed the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) to enhance its partnerships with local health department mass vaccination operations throughout the state to help meet the growing demand for the COVID-19 vaccine booster. The State of Illinois is more than doubling personnel and adding at least 100 people to regional sites – administering vaccinations, preparing vaccine doses for clinic personnel, and doing data entry. 
 
Additionally, starting the week of January 3, the state’s free Community Based Testing Sites will begin operating six days a week to increase COVID-19 testing availability across the state.  View full press release here.
The DuPage County Health Department Has Updated Information Regarding CDC COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Guidance:

Based on what is currently known about Omicron and what the science demonstrates regarding SARS-CoV-2 transmission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated isolation and quarantine recommendations for the public. This change is motivated by science demonstrating the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after. Therefore, CDC now recommends that people who test positive should isolate for 5 days and, if asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting others. For additional information, please read CDC’s Updates and Shortens Recommended Isolation and Quarantine Period for General Population. DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) supports CDC’s recommendations for shortened isolation and quarantine guidelines and is awaiting further clarification from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on implementation of this updated guidance in specific settings. DCHD guidance will be aligned with CDC and IDPH guidance as updates are provided.

For all persons without symptoms who are exposed to COVID-19, testing is strongly recommended 5 days after exposure. For testing locations, please click here.

CDC’s new isolation and quarantine recommendations for the public are outlined below:
The DuPage County Health Department offers pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 5-11. Booster shots are also available for those 16+. Click here to register and you will be notified via email for an appointment.

DCHD also encourages anyone interested in COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots visit www.vaccines.gov.

For information regarding COVID testing in DuPage County, click here.
Holiday Live Tree Disposal

Live Christmas trees will be picked up without a refuse sticker if placed at the curb on your regular refuse collection day during the first and second week in January. After that, a sticker is required. All ornaments, lights, and nails must be removed. Trees may not be placed in plastic bags. Wrapping paper, packing peanuts, garlands, and wreaths may be included with regular refuse. Boxes may be recycled if they measure no more than three feet by three feet, have been flattened, and bagged or bundled.
Holiday Light Disposal

Have your holiday lights lost their twinkle? Instead of sending them to the landfill, drop your dead lights off in one of our containers at Courts Plus (186 S. West Avenue), The Elmhurst Park District Administrative Office (375 W First St.), Wagner Community Center (615 N. West Ave.), or City Hall (209 N. York St.) through Tuesday, January 18, 2022 (look for the bins with the “Holiday Lights” signage.) The City of Elmhurst and Elmhurst Park District are partnering with Elgin Recycling for their annual holiday lights recycling program, with a goal of recycling over 100,000 pounds of holiday lights. Items that will be accepted include mini-lights, traditional lights, extension cords, rope lights, and LED lights in both working and non-working condition. Call Mickey Boyle at (630) 993-8941 or email MBoyle@epd.org with any questions.
Blood Drive

On Tuesday, January 18, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the City will be hosting a blood drive through Vitalant at City Hall in the Council Chambers. If you would like to donate, appointments are recommended.

Visit the link below and use group code ord0915B to make an appointment for the January 18th blood drive at City Hall. 
Due to the increased number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Omicron variant cases in Elmhurst, the Chamber's Annual "State of Our City" Mayoral Address Membership Breakfast slated at Community Bank of Elmhurst's Hammersmith Community Room for Thursday, January 20, has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 17.

Mayor Scott Levin will deliver his Annual "State of Our City" Mayoral Address at the Chamber's Membership Breakfast sponsored by Community Bank of Elmhurst, 330 West Butterfield Road, on Thursday, March 17, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. The event will also be streamed live on Elmhurst TV.
Electronic Recycling Event - January 22

The City will host an Electronic Recycling event on January 22, 2022 at the Public Works Facility (985 S Riverside Drive, Elmhurst) from 8 am until noon. This event is in cooperation with DuPage County.

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED ITEMS: Computers, Laptops, Servers, Computer Monitors*, Televisions*, Printers, Facsimile, Scanners, VCR and DVD Players, Video Game Consoles, Cable and Converter Boxes, Satellite Receivers, Electronic Keyboards, Mice, Portable Music Players, Holiday String Lights, Wire, Cables, Adapters, Power Supplies, Cell Phones, Modems, Tablets, Phones, Docking Stations. More info...
City of Elmhurst Warming Center 

Warming centers are heated public facilities where any resident can go to during periods of extreme cold temperatures to stay warm and safe. The Elmhurst Public Library (125 S. Prospect) has been designated as an area warming center for those who need temporary relief from the cold.The library is open Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunday: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Please call the Elmhurst Police Department for additional site referrals: (630) 530-3050 non-emergency number.
City of Elmhurst
630-530-3000 
Weekdays: 8:30am - 5pm