CVS Employee Did Not Spread Coronavirus In Glenview, Village Says

GLENVIEW, IL — Village officials say there is no concern that an out-of-state CVS employee who tested positive for COVID-19 after working in the company's Glenview offices last week spread the new coronavirus.

Public health officials have confirmed the visiting employee was not showing symptoms while working at the company's Sanders Road offices, so there was no risk of community transmission, according to a news release from Glenview village staff.

The company learned of the positive COVID-19 diagnosis on Sunday and immediately implemented its infectious disease response protocols, according to Joe Goode, senior director of corporate communications. CVS officials also contacted state and county health departments about the diagnosis, according to the company spokesperson and village staff.

Though not directed to do so by public health authorities, CVS took the extra precautions of disinfecting and sterilizing the office where the employee worked, establishing a cautionary quarantine period for workers who had contact with the visiting employee and notifying its employees about the case, according to the village and the company. Any quarantined employees unable to work from home will be placed on paid leave for the duration, according to Goode.

Village staff learned of the diagnosis through an anonymous email that was also sent to various media outlets. According to the email, the visiting executive attended a meeting in Boston where 30 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 before working in Glenview on March 2. The email expresses concerns that other employees do not know if they have been in contact with people who have been voluntarily quarantined because the company has not announced them.

"We notified all employees who work in our Northbrook office about what happened and the steps we have taken," Goode said in an email. "We are also cooperating with department of health protocols under which each state department of health handles notification about positive test results to other states."

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Leaders of local public bodies last week formed the Glenview-Northbrook Coronavirus Task Force. The 15-member group includes the villages managers of both towns, superintendents of their six local school districts, directors of local library and park districts, the Northfield Township supervisor and leaders of their local chambers of commerce.

"The entities plan to take consistent and coordinated action whenever possible," the group announced. "We also are committed to providing accurate, timely and valuable information." According to its website, the task force will meet regularly and share updates

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The Glenview-Northbrook Coronavirus Task Force shared the following recommendations:

• The CDC's Travel Health Notices page as of today recommends a 14-day quarantine for individuals returning from China, Italy, Iran, and South Korea.
• We encourage you to practice healthy habits to reduce the spread of germs, including:
• Stay home if you are sick, and keep sick children home from school and other activities until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing drugs.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol content and is not expired.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who 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.
• Do not share eating utensils or drinking containers.

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.