Evanston Health Officials Keep Local Residents Aware Of Virus

EVANSTON, IL — The city of Evanston continues to take measures to combat the spread of coronavirus, the global pandemic that already claimed the life of one Evanston resident and that has disrupted daily life for the foreseeable future, local health officials said on Friday in the city’s fifth live-streamed question and answer session regarding coronavirus.

Dr. Vishnu Chundi, the chairperson for infectious diseases at AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital, characterized coronavirus as a “game-changer” because of the pandemic nature that the virus has created around the world. While transmission of the virus can take place through the air, the major of the cases, Chundi said Friday, comes through people’s hands, which makes social distancing even more important in preventing transmission. Because studies show that people who test positive for coronavirus typically go through an asymptomatic period first, it becomes even more essential for local residents to take caution in how much exposure they have to others at this time.

Chundi said while local hospitals and health care agencies have enough equipment to keep them safe for the time being, there is not enough masks and other protective equipment over the long run because of the demand worldwide. Especially in short demand are the N95 Respirator masks, which Chundi said removes about 95 percent of the particles in the air. Chundi said local health officials are conserving the masks by using the same mask for longer periods of time unless they become soiled. Surgical masks are also in short supply and so masks that were once used as single-use masks are also now being relied on for longer periods of time.

“This (pandemic) is going to be going on for months, not days and so there are going to be shortages and we will have to work through that,” Chundi said.

In Evanston, city health officials have also attempted to protect the city’s homeless population, Evanston Public Health Manager Greg Olsen said in Friday’s live-stream. Olsen said the city has set up portable handwashing stations along with portable toilets strategically around the city just to provide the homeless access to sanitary ways to wash their hands when in public. Olsen said the city has also partnered with a local organization and a local business to temporarily house the homeless.

“Since COVID is considered a community spread (virus), being out in the community puts you at risk,” Olsen said.

Earlier: Public Health Manager, Local Doctor Take Coronavirus Questions