1st Coronavirus Deaths Reported Among Evanston, Skokie Residents

EVANSTON, IL — The first deaths of Evanston and Skokie residents with confirmed cases of the new coronavirus were reported this week by officials in both towns.

As of Tuesday, there were 41 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Evanston residents and 28 confirmed cases in Skokie, among more than 412 in suburban Cook County, according to their respective health departments.

Sixteen people in Illinois have died since March 16, with all but one of them over the age of 60, according to Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

They include one of the three residents of a local senior living community who had tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus.

A shortage of available tests has meant residents and staff who have not shown symptoms have been unable to be checked for coronavirus infection, according to facility administrators.

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Phil Hemmer, executive director at the Three Crowns Park retirement community in Evanston, said the resident who died over the weekend had been hospitalized since March 15. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim as a 93-year-old man.

In a letter to residents, friends and family members, Hemmer said residents and staff were being closely monitored for symptoms, and the facility's "tireless" staff was working to keep residents safe and connected with the community, which has shown support by donating face masks, hand sanitizer and well wishes, the Evanston RoundTable reported.

"Yesterday, our spirits were lifted when someone repurposed campaign signs and placed them around the campus with new sayings: 'We are thinking of you,' 'Take care' and 'We love you,'" Hemmer said.

In Skokie, confirmed cases of COVID-19 include residents ranging from 20 to 80 years old.

One Skokie man, described as older and with underlying health conditions, had died as of Monday, according to the village health department.

According to Northwestern University, six faculty or staff members had confirmed cases of COVID-19 that could have presented a risk of exposure to other members of the community as of Tuesday. No deaths have been reported in the university community.

John LaPlante, a Chicago resident and an active member of the Evanston Unitarian Church, died Saturday at Evanston Hospital from the coronavirus.

In a letter to the community, Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty said local health care organizations were leading the state in increasing coronavirus testing capacity.

NorthShore University Health System is able to conduct 500 tests a day and there is an operational mobile testing site in Skokie, he said, but a doctor's note is needed to be tested in either location.

Representatives of NorthShore and the Evanston Health and Human Services Department are scheduled to host a livestreamed question and answer session at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Find more information or submit questions online.

Related:

• Pritzker 'Not Willing To Sacrifice Anyone' As Illinois Death Toll Rises To 16
• Evanston Coronavirus Cases Reported As Mayor Warns Of Shortage
• Skokie Mayor Declares Public Health Emergency In Response To Coronavirus
• NorthShore University HealthSystem Develops In-House Coronavirus Tests

Hagerty, a professional emergency management consultant, asked the public to create a COVID-19 household response plan to be ready for the possible need to self-isolate, to ensure care for vulnerable family members and to have a backup plan ready.

The library portion of the new Robert Crown Community Center has been temporarily repurposed as Evanston's emergency operations center, and the mayor said city staff and elected officials were working nonstop to develop emergency response plans.

Hagerty said the best way to support the community's front-line health care workers, emergency personnel and those caring for the elderly and ill is to support Gov. JB Pritzker's "stay at home" executive order. The order is aimed at limiting physical contact and stemming the spread of the coronavirus to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. Without it, the governor warned Illinois was on track to run out of hospital beds within two weeks.

"We owe them — and all who continue to do essential work to meet our needs during this crisis, keeping grocery stores and carryout restaurants open and providing essential services — a great deal of gratitude for not abandoning their post when people need them most," Hagerty said. "For now, the best way to show our gratitude is by following the Governor's Order and staying home."