Coronavirus Update: Arlington Heights Offices Closed To Public

From the Village of Arlington Heights:

March 18 2020

In light of concerns to keep our community safe in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Village of Arlington Heights' government offices are closed to the public starting at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 17 through the end of March, 2020. People needing Village services can call for appointments, email the Village or use online services. Please review message from Mayor Thomas W. Hayes.

The timeline for the closure to the public will be re-assessed and the public will be updated as necessary. We thank you for your patience and flexibility as we do our part in stopping the spread of COVID-19. Please know that the Village is following recommendations made by federal, state and county agencies that are taking the lead in this ongoing effort to mitigate the spread of this virus.

Meet with us by Appointment Only

At the start of business on Wednesday, March 18, Village Hall and the Public Works Hanson Center will be open to the public by appointments only until the end of business on Tuesday, March 31.

If residents need to make an appointment with staff members, please schedule the meeting via email or by calling. Please check our online Staff Directory for emails and phone numbers, or send us a general Contact Us email and we will be happy to respond and further direct you.

The general phone number for Village Hall is 847.368.5000, for Public Works it is 847.368.5800 or email publicworks@vah.com and for Police it is 847.368.5300 or email policemail@vah.com. Residents are also encouraged to use our online Arlington@Work request form to report any public service needs.

Village Meetings
Non-essential Village Boards and Commission meetings are canceled for the rest of the month of March. Also, meetings of outside organizations that use Village Hall meeting rooms are canceled until the end of March.

Police & Fire Services

The Police and Fire Department The Police and Fire Department services remain fully operational. However, the Police station will have limited public access. Also, there will be no Police station tours, public programs such as the Citizens Police Academy, Car Seat Safety Checks, etc. for the immediate future.

Anyone needing to visit the police station are asked to first call 847.368.5300. Many Police services can be handled over the phone or online, thereby eliminating a need to come into the Police station.

Individuals & Families Seeking Emergency Assistance Funding
We recognize that during this time, a number of individuals and families may be economically impacted due to the nature of their work, or struggles with child or elder care. Our Emergency Assistance program serves as a stopgap measure for residents of Arlington Heights who are experiencing a temporary economic hardship and meet the criteria set forth in this program. Applications will be taken by email or mail only.

Based on income qualifications, financial assistance may be provided for basic needs, such as rent and utilities to qualifying applicants. If a resident is in need of financial assistance related to a medical bill, they are encouraged to reach out to the financial assistance department at that medical facility. To apply for emergency assistance, please complete this form and supporting documentation.

If you are interested in helping your neighbors in need and contributing to this fund, donations can be made through Arlington Cares.

Arlington Heights Senior Center

The Arlington Heights Senior Center remains closed to the public until further notice, with a limited number of essential services for seniors continuing:

• Meals on Wheel also referred to as Home Delivered Meals are going out Monday through Friday
• Catholic Charities is accessible by phone, 847-797-5350,
• Catholic Charities will be handing out warm and cold meals at the front door between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
• For more information, please call the Senior Center at 847.253.5532, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m.

Convenient Online Village Services
Residents can pay for their water bill, vehicle sticker or parking permits online. Residents also have the option to use our drop-off payment box that is located outside Village Hall by the Arlington Heights Road exit of the Municipal Parking Garage, on the south side of the exit. This drop-off box is checked regularly.

Other Ways to Reach Us

• Send us a Contact Us email regarding any Village inquiry.
• Create a service request for anything you may see in the community that needs our attention, such as a street light out, pothole, etc.
• Contact a staff member directly by finding them in the Staff Directory

Village of Arlington Heights' Response to COVID-19

The Village of Arlington Heights collaborates with the Cook County Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Public Health on all health-related topics. We are monitoring this situation very closely in an effort to support these agencies and provide timely updates on our website and on social media. The public should take this opportunity to prepare and to be familiar with what is recommended in order to help minimize the risk of COVID-19 spread. Educational Information Symptoms reported among patients have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Public health officials are encouraging the public to remain vigilant about keeping germs from spreading by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands with warm soap and water, and staying home when sick.

On March 11, 2020, the Village released a statement on how we are addressing COVID-19 within our community. View the statement from the Village.

Get Connected
Take an opportunity to sign up for alerts of news and meetings, or use some of the online tools we have in place for you to reach out to us, including the Citizen Request Form, Contact Us, our social media, or any surveys that we may place online. Please click here for more information.

Please click here to register for Arlington Alert for community notifications sent directly to your phone.

Additional Resources
CDC advises that people follow these tips to help prevent respiratory illnesses:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick with respiratory symptoms.
• 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.
• If you have not already done so, discuss influenza vaccination with your health care provider to help protect you against seasonal influenza.

Questions regarding the Coronavirus should be directed to the Illinois Department of Public Health at the COVID-19 Hotline, 1.800.889.3931, or email DPH.SICK@ILLINOIS.GOV. You can also contact the Cook County Department of Public Health at 708.633.4000 or visit their webpage.

State:
Office of Governor Pritzker
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi

Federal:
Center for Disease Control
United States Department of Labor
U.S. Food & Drug Administration

International:
World Health Organization

Other:
Comcast's Response

This press release was produced by the Village of Arlington Heights. The views expressed here are the author’s own.