Special E-News Edition
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
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The global outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease COVID-19 continues to warrant the attention of each and every one of us as we work together to keep our community safe and healthy. While we have no cases of COVID-19 in the Village of Mundelein at this time, we are taking aggressive, proactive, and precautionary measures to contain the spread of this virus. The Village will continue its normal operations with some modifications to non-essential functions, however, we are continually monitoring this outbreak, and we will take alternative steps when warranted.
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Coronavirus COVID-19 Hotline
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The Illinois Department of Public Health has established a COVID-19 hotline and email address to answer questions from the public:
Hotline: 1-800-889-3931
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Community preparedness discussions are ongoing with several government entities including: Mundelein High School District 120, School Districts 75, 76, and 79, Carmel Catholic High School, Mundelein Park District, Mundelein Police Department, Mundelein Fire Department, Fremont Township, Libertyville Township, Vernon Township, Fremont Library District, Lake County Health Department, and the Illinois Department of Public Health. We are carefully monitoring the most current information available and are developing plans for future responses.
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Public Safety and Critical Operation Personnel
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Ensuring everyone’s health and safety, means taking actions now that aim to limit exposure to the virus, especially those community members in high-risk categories. To this end and following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Illinois Department of Health (IDPH), and our own public health safety experts, the Village is implementing a number of actions with its personnel intended to slow the spread of the virus and protect the health of the Mundelein community.
These actions include imposing social distancing where warranted, modifying work practices that minimize contact with the general public, closely monitoring absences from work, travel destinations, and generally elevating preventive hygiene practices throughout all village personnel, along with other operational adjustments.
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Future events are being evaluated as the event dates approach and may be canceled if there is evidence that it would present a public health concern. This is a fluid situation that is being re-evaluated daily. The CDC recommends that individuals with a compromised immune system, in a high-risk category – especially the elderly, or otherwise vulnerable to contracting a virus -- should avoid large gatherings.
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Suspension of All Non-Essential Meetings
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For the past few weeks, Mundelein has been escalating its response to the COVID-19 outbreak to ensure the safety of the Mundelein community and the continuity of essential Village operations. In an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the CDC, State of Illinois, and the Lake County Health Department has issued new recommendations pertaining to canceling large events and practicing social distancing. As of today, both measures have been implemented by the Village of Mundelein to reduce social contact which will help to prevent the spread of the disease. After careful consideration and in discussions with Mayor Steve Lentz and public safety personnel, we have decided to suspend all non-essential meetings (not critical to core Village operations) until April 5, 2020. However, response to the COVID-19 is a day-to-day evaluation and the suspension may extend to a longer period of time. The decision to extend this suspension will be made on April 1, 2020.
The only public meetings not suspended are Village Board meetings (including special meetings), Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting scheduled for March 18, 2020, and Board of Fire and Police Commission. Again, with the rapidly changing environment this may change in the future.
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Stay Informed…Watch Board Meetings Remotely!
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Residents are encouraged to watch the Village of Mundelein Board meetings from the comfort of their homes.
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Comcast to Offer FREE Internet to Low-income Families during Coronavirus Pandemic
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As the country deals with the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Comcast is taking immediate steps to help connect more low-income families to the Internet at home. Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, anyone who signs up for Internet Essentials will receive two free months of Internet service.
Comcast is also increasing the speed of the program to 25 Mbps downloads, and 3 Mbps uploads for all new and existing customers.
After your first two free months expire, customers can either cancel the service (which you can do at any time) or keep it as a regular paying Internet Essentials customer. You will receive an easy to use self-install-kit that includes a cable modem (to receive service at your home) with a Wi-Fi router (to connect your devices without wires). There is no term contract or credit check and no shipping fee for equipment.
You may qualify if:
- You are eligible for public assistance programs such as the National School Lunch Program, Housing Assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI and others.
- You do not have outstanding debt to Comcast that is less than a year old. Families with outstanding debt more than one year old may still be eligible.
- You live in an area where Comcast Internet service is available but have not subscribed to it within the last 90 days.
If approved, you will receive a Welcome Kit and Internet equipment in 7-10 business days.
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We strongly encourage everyone in the community to follow the CDC recommendations for preventive actions:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
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Lake County Health Department Recommends Clean-Cover-Contain
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Clean
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects.
Cover
- Cover cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Contain
- Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
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Patients with COVID-19 have experienced mild to severe respiratory illness. Symptoms can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.
If you have traveled to affected geographic areas in the past two weeks or have been exposed to someone who may have COVID-19 AND you have symptoms, please call your health care provider so they can make arrangements for you to be assessed.
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The best way to prevent COVID-19 is to avoid exposure to the virus. Current
CDC travel recommendations
include avoiding all nonessential travel to China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea, practicing enhanced precautions when traveling to Japan, and practicing usual precautions when traveling to Hong Kong.
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Revised Public Notice on Site-Based CALEA Accreditation
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The Mundelein Police Department is scheduled for a site-based assessment as part of a program to achieve accreditation.
Out of an abundance of caution to help restrict the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), CALEA has suggested to participating agencies that they cancel the public information session. As such, the public information session originally scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2020 at 4 p.m. has been canceled.
Agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments by calling 847-968-4613 on Monday, March 16, 2020 between the hours of 12:45 PM and 3:45 PM. Comments will be taken by the Assessment Team. Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA's standards. A copy of the Standards is available at the Mundelein Police Department at 221 North Lake Street, Mundelein, Illinois.
Local contact is Commander Gary DuHamel at 847-968-4600. Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Mundelein Police Department's ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155 or
emailcalea@calea.org
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Background Information on Coronavirus
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The Illinois Department of Public Health, local health departments, and public health partners throughout Illinois, and federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are responding to an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus called COVID-19 that was first identified in December 2019 during an outbreak in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 has spread throughout the world, including the United States, since it was detected and was declared a public health emergency for the U.S. on January 31, 2020 to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to the threat. The World Health Organization announced March 11, 2020 that the spread of coronavirus qualifies as a global pandemic.
In addition, Gov. JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation March 9, 2020 regarding COVID-19 that gives the state access to federal and state resources to combat the spread of this newly emerged virus.
The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported January 21, 2020 and the first confirmed case in Illinois was announced January 24, 2020 (a Chicago resident). The first cases outside Chicago and Cook County were reported March 11, 2020 in Kane and McHenry counties. The current count of cases of COVID-19 in the United States is available on the
CDC webpage
.
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How is Coronavirus Spread
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Person-to-person spread of COVID-19 appears to be mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It also may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Preliminary data suggest older adults and people with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems seems to be at greater risk of developing serious illness from the virus.
If you are sick and have respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, stay home unless you need medical attention. Remain in your home until you feel better and have no symptoms. Keep in mind there is no treatment for COVID-19 and people who are mildly ill can isolate at home. While at home, as much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people. Those who need medical attention should contact their health care provider who will evaluate whether they can be cared for at home or need to be hospitalized.
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For the Latest Information About Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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The following links will direct you to the most up-to-date information on the COVID-19 virus:
The Illinois Department of Public Health has established a COVID-19 hotline and email address to answer questions from the public:
Hotline: 1-800-889-3931
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We recognize that our community will have many questions in the days and weeks ahead, and we will soon have a dedicated webpage at:
This webpage will provide you with the latest information and announcements regarding Mundelein’s response to COVID-19. We invite you to refer to this page regularly for updates.
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While this is a challenging time for our community, with small adjustments to our daily routines, we can have a significant impact on reducing the health threat we are currently facing. We trust that all of us will join together as a community to care for and support one another through this difficult situation.
Steve Lentz, Mayor
John Lobaito, Village Administrator
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847-949-3200
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info@mundelein.org
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