Evanston Cancels Upcoming Public Events, Senior Center Activities

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston city staff announced the cancellation of all senior classes at the Levy Senior Center until further notice and the postponement of a scheduled state of the city luncheon and Robert Crown Community Center open house events. Staff said the move was a precautionary measure aimed at limiting the spread of the new coronavirus.

City staff said they would be evaluating events planned for the future to decide "when and how they will proceed," as well as implementing measures to keep people away from one another at future meetings and city-sponsored events, according to a Wednesday evening release.

Evanston's health department, one of just four certified municipal health departments in the state, is working with county, state and federal health officials to monitor the spread of COVID-19, which the World Health Organization has declared a pandemic, and take "necessary actions" to slow its spread, according to the release.

The Levy Senior Center fitness room and computer lab are shuttered until further notice and its bus will not be picking up or dropping off seniors. In addition to all Levy Center senior classes, the Fleetwood Jourdain Foster Club, the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center's congregate meal program, FJT Prime Time Players and pickleball at the Chandler-Newberger Center have been canceled indefinitely, according to a statement from center staff. Meals will be provided in to-go containers and senior will not be allowed to congregate or eat at the center.

The "2020 Mayor's State of the City Luncheon" is presented by the Evanston Chamber of Commerce and had been scheduled for Friday morning. Tickets were $65 for those who were not members of the chamber and $60 for city staff and members. Executive Director Roger Sosa said the chamber plans to reschedule the event and honor tickets already sold, but it will offer refunds to anyone who requests one.

Also cancelled: The Women's History Month brunch planned for Sunday. According to Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Artistic Director Tim Rhoze, the event will be rescheduled, all tickets will be honored and refunds are available upon request.

City spokesperson Patrick Deignan said there have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases among Evanston residents. It was not immediately clear whether local hospitals were treating coronavirus patients who live elsewhere.

Illinois Colleges Move Online, Extend Spring Break »

Meanwhile, Northwestern University announced Wednesday it would be extending its spring break by an additional week. After classes resume on April 4, university officials said instruction would be conducted remotely wherever possible. Northwestern leaders plan to reassess the situation before April 17 to determine whether to resume in-person classes by April 27, according to a statement.

University leaders assured the public the university would remain operational as it sought to reduce the number of gatherings that could result in close contact and potentially spread the disease. Students who leave campus after final exams were asked not to return until further notice. Residence and dining halls will remain open on the Evanston campus for students who remain.

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Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. COVID-19 is the disease caused by a virus called, "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2" or SARS-CoV-2, which was first identified last year in the city of Wuhan, China. The virus is related to others that have led to outbreaks in recent years, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, and Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath and appear anywhere from two days to two weeks after exposure.

There is not yet any available antiviral treatment or vaccine against the novel coronavirus, which was officially declared a "pandemic" by the World Health Organization Wednesday. Unlike influenza, no one's immune system has antibodies against it. As a result, infectious disease experts believe its mortality rate is "much higher" than the seasonal flu, although how much higher in the United States is yet to be determined.

Senior citizens and people with pre-existing health conditions or weakened immune systems are most at risk of developing a severe case of COVID-19. Public health officials hope to reduce the risk of overloading the health care system and endangering more lives by keeping the rate of new infections as low as possible.

The CDC recommends frequent handwashing, regularly disinfecting commonly used spaces, avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth, and staying home when sick to limit the community spread of the virus. A hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol is recommended if hand-washing with soap and water is not available.

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More information is available online from the Cook County Department of Public Health, Illinois Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Illinois Novel Coronavirus Hotline is 800-889-3931, and can be called at any time. Emails can be sent to: dph.sick@illinois.gov.