Important COVID-19 Community Updates
Lake Forest is currently in Phase 4 of the Governor's "Restore Illinois" Plan. View the Phase 4 Guidelines here.

Please remember that face coverings, frequent hand sanitizing and 6-foot physical distancing are still required.

  • Wear a Mask
  • Wash Your Hands
  • Watch Your Distance

If you have noticed you are not following COVID-19 precautions closely, you may be suffering from caution fatigue. This may cause you to have lower motivation to social distance and increase your risk of getting COVID-19. There are ways to combat caution fatigue.

  • Take care of your physical and mental health.
  • Reframe risks and benefits.
  • Rebuild your routine.
  • Make altruism a habit.
  • Switch up your media diet.
Almost all City buildings are open with limited staffing and safety protocols in place. The City encourages residents to continue using online City services as often as possible.

This E-Newsletter will continue to be issued every Friday or as necessary.

Please dial 9-1-1 in case of emergencies only, and 847.234.2601 for non-emergencies. For all other City services, please call the City's general phone line, 847.234.2600. Check the City's website for additional information and continue to send any inquiries to cityhall@cityoflakeforest.com.
IDPH Travel Guidance

The Illinois Department of Public Health now provides travel safety guidance on its website. Illinoisans are still encouraged to avoid all unnecessary travel. To assist individuals in assessing the risk of travel, the IDPH has created a Travel Advisory Map which denotes the relative risk (higher risk or lower risk) of traveling to various states or countries. IDPH recommends that individuals avoid travel to areas of higher risk as much as possible.

As a reminder, the City of Highland Park urges residents returning from states experiencing widespread COVID-19 community transmission levels to self-quarantine for 14-days. This recommendation is consistent with guidance from the Lake County Health Department (LCHD) and follows related information from Chicago and most of Cook County. 

IDPH's travel guidance include the following recommendations:

  • Wear a face covering in public.
  • Maintain a six-foot distance from others. 
  • While driving, limit unnecessary stops to avoid close contact with others.
  • Monitor for symptoms, including fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
Health Department Seeking Contact Tracing Applicants

The Health Department is moving forward with hiring approximately 150 COVID-19 case investigators and contact tracers through a $4.9 million dollar grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health, as well as positions from Workforce Development and the CDC Foundation. 

So far, approximately 20% of the positions have been filled and onboarded. It is anticipated that all positions will be filled by the end of September. 

The Health Department is still seeking applicants, especially those from Lake County communities most affected by COVID-19. Interested applicants can apply at www.lchdcareers.com. 
Census workers have begun knocking on doors in Lake County between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., visiting every household that hasn’t yet responded to the census. Make sure to answer the door and get counted! The census taker will show you an ID badge that includes their name and picture, and will be carrying an electronic device, like a laptop or smartphone, that has the Census Bureau logo.

Fill out your form now at 2020census.gov, or call 844.330.2020.
What's Open in Lake Forest?
Parks & Recreation Facilities
  • Deerpath Golf Course
  • Forest Park Beach (including concessions and restrooms)
  • Park Grounds & Trails
  • Tennis Courts
  • Playgrounds at All Facilities
  • Park Restrooms
  • Volleyball nets at the beach
  • Stirling Hall 
  • Dickinson Hall (by appointment; call 847.234.2209)
  • Wildlife Discovery Center (outdoor exhibits and trails open, indoor exhibits & restrooms are closed)
  • Recreation Center (to registered program participants)
  • Fitness Center
  • CROYA 
  • Lake Forest Library
  • Lake Forest Cemetery Gatehouse (by appointment; call 847.615.4341)
  • Kinderhaven
  • Park and Beach Pavilions will remain closed through 2020 
*For a complete list of the status of recreation facilities visit the Lake Forest Parks & Recreation's website.
City Buildings 
  • Cemetery & Gatehouse
  • City Hall
  • Compost/Recycling Center
  • East Train Station - Restrooms, Silver Lining Barber Shop and Slick Shine (Metra ticket office closed)
  • Telegraph Road Train Station - Restrooms, AREA Coffee Shop
  • Municipal Services Building
  • Public Safety Building
  • Water Plant
*For a complete list of the status of City buildings visit the City's website.
Community Facilities

Visit their websites for the most up to date information:
 
Lake County Interactive Map
Lake County occupies 1/2 of Region 9 according to the latest revisions to the Restore Illinois Plan. The western 1/2 of Region 9 is McHenry County.

The Lake County Health Department's interactive map shares the number of residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 in each municipality. You can view the map here.
Local Resources
State/Federal Resources
The City of Lake Forest, Illinois | Website