Lake County Health Department Issues New Coronavirus Guidance

WAUKEGAN, IL — Local public health officials Friday issued new guidance to slow the spread of the new coronavirus in the county. The Lake County Health Department recommended the cancellation of all large gatherings and measures to reduce social contact to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

The recommendations were made in collaboration with the county government, state officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mitigation strategies to limit community spread of the coronavirus. Also Friday, Lake County issued a disaster proclamation aimed to access resources, equipment and personnel.

"We want to reassure residents that currently, there is no evidence of community transmission of COVID-19 in Lake County. We do, however, expect to see more cases of COVID-19 in our communities," Lisa Kritz, director of prevention for the Lake County Health Department, said in a news release.

As of Friday morning, there had been one confirmed case of the coronavirus among Lake County residents, a man in his 50s. According to the health department, the man had close contact with a person from another state who also tested positive for COVID-19. Department staff were assigned to track down any people who had close contacts with him, and he was reported to be in stable condition Wednesday. Another coronavirus patient was taken to a hospital in the county for treatment.

"Our priority is protecting the health and safety of all who live, work, and play in Lake County, and we are taking an aggressive approach to mitigate the impact of COVID-19," Kritz said. "By acting now, we all can help prevent illness and protect one another."

People at the greatest risk of serious illness from the coronavirus are those with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, as well as older adults, according to public health officials. Long-term care facilities have been asked to take measures to protect their residents, and those among vulnerable populations were asked to avoid non-essential air travel, cruises, crowds and close contact with others.

"We recognize each of our communities is unique and jurisdictions need to consider tailoring their mitigation strategies to their characteristics and population," Lake County Board of Health President Tim Sashko said. "However, these new recommendations provide common-sense steps every community can take now to reduce the spread of COVID-19."

All events with 250 people or more should be postponed until May 1. This includes social events, spectator sports, concerts and other performances with large crowds, according to the Lake County Health Department guidance.

Events with between 10 and 250 people should be reconsidered, especially likely attendees include the populations most vulnerable to COVID-19. The department recommended residents use good judgement about attending events in their own communities.

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Without intervening and putting protective measures in place to limit the outbreak's growth rate, the capacity of the healthcare system could be overstretched, medical professionals have warned.

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"Our Health Department has a dedicated team of staff working night and day to protect the health of our residents," Sashko said. "We ask all people to prepare and stay healthy. Continue using everyday preventive actions — washing hands frequently, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, covering coughs and sneezes, staying home when you are sick, and avoiding contact with sick people."

As of Friday morning, the Lake County Health Department had not issued a recommendation to close schools. Administrators at each of the county's more than 50 school districts in the county are responsible for making local decisions.

Regardless, all schools should cancel any large assemblies or sporting events with crowds larger than 250 people, according to the health department. Districts consider restricting access to school buildings to only essential personnel, limit field trips and interactions between schools and staggered schedules. Educators should also plan for remote learning.

Every Lake County business that can have its employees work remotely "should consider doing so immediately," according to the health department. For those that cannot, employers should be flexible with leave policies, promote strong hygienic approaches and emphasize the need for staff to remain home if they feel sick.

Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart signed a disaster proclamation Friday to allow the county access to state and federal funding for coronavirus response efforts.

"This proclamation allows for greater collaboration with our local, state and federal partners," Hart said in a relesase. "It also positions the County to access funding and support from the federal government when additional resources are necessary, and funding is made available."

All county government offices currently remain open, and county officials have put in place a contingency planning team to monitor the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. The county is encouraging social distancing in the workplace and exploring teleworking options for government staff and the cancellation of upcoming public meetings.

"Our highest priority is to ensure the health and safety of Lake County employees and their families, and residents," County Administrator Gary Gibson said. "This is a dynamic situation, and our staff is working tirelessly to stay up to date with the most current information and make informed decisions to minimize the spread of COVID-19.”

To report a suspected case of COVID-19 or to ask coronavirus-related questions, the Illinois Department of Public Health established a coronavirus hotline at 800-889-3931. IDPH can also be reached by email at dph.sick@illinois.gov.

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