Barrington Village President Karen Darch Reassures Community Amid Coronavirus Concerns

///
4 mins read

Barrington Village President, Karen Darch sent a message to the community today reassuring residents that local leaders are reacting proactively to coronavirus concerns in our area. Here’s what she wrote.

“As concerns over Coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to grow across the country, and as we have learned about the confirmed case of a McHenry County individual contracting the virus, I wanted you to know that we in the Village of Barrington government are monitoring this situation closely.

We continue to follow the lead of our public health officials, including both the Cook and Lake County Health Departments, which have the best big-picture view of this evolving situation. We have also been in frequent touch with the leaders of our other local organizations, including District 220 schools and the BACOG municipalities.

I want to assure you that Village operations are happening as normal, and we will continue to remain open for business. Our Public Safety police and fire personnel are fully prepared for Coronavirus response.

We are also taking measures to protect the public and our staff by following appropriate health practices, including thoroughly cleaning our facilities, with special focus on our public spaces such as lobbies and entryways.

Obviously, Coronavirus is a developing situation. I want to assure you that we continue to monitor developments and will communicate with you as appropriate.

In the meantime, I would like to direct you to a wonderful resource from the Lake County Health Department, which is putting out a regular e-newsletter on Coronavirus (see below for today’s edition). I encourage you to sign up for it here.”

LAKE COUNTY CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

March 10, 2020

Welcome to our first edition of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update from the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center. Thank you for subscribing.

Through this newsletter, we look forward to providing you with weekly updates, including:

  • Accurate and timely information related to Lake County,
  • Steps you can take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and
  • Useful resources from reputable organizations.

For the most current information in Lake County, please visit our Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) web page, which is updated daily.

Lake County Update

The Lake County Health Department is closely monitoring a fast-changing outbreak of a novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19) first identified in the city of Wuhan, China.

As of March 10, 2020, no Lake County residents have tested positive for COVID-19.

On March 9, the Lake County Health Department received reports that a patient receiving treatment at a hospital in Lake County has tested positive for COVID-19. The patient, who is not a resident of Lake County, is in stable condition and is being treated in isolation in accordance with the appropriate infection prevention measures. Health Department staff were on-site beginning the morning of March 10, working to rapidly identify, interview, and assess the risk for healthcare contacts of the confirmed case.

Our priority is the health and safety of our residents, and we continue to use every available resource to prepare our communities for additional cases of COVID-19.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for the majority of people, the immediate risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is considered low.

Find the latest updates for Lake County at lakecountyil.gov/coronavirus.

For the current status of the COVID-19 outbreak, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH): Coronavirus websites.

What You Need to Do

Practice the 3 C’s – Clean, Cover, Contain.
We all need to take “everyday preventive actions” to prevent the spread of illness – remember the “3 C’s” – Clean, Cover, Contain:

Clean

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects.

Cover

  • Cover cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.

Contain

  • Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Planning a Trip? Check CDC Travel Recommendations.

The best way to prevent COVID-19 is to avoid exposure to the virus. As of March 10, 2020, CDC travel recommendations include avoiding all nonessential travel to China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea, practicing enhanced precautions when traveling to Japan, and practicing usual precautions when traveling to Hong Kong.

CDC recommends travelers, particularly those with underlying health issues, defer all cruise ship travel worldwide. Cruise ship passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

Older adults and travelers with underlying health issues should avoid situations that put them at increased risk for more severe disease. This entails avoiding crowded places, avoiding non-essential travel such as long plane trips, and especially avoiding embarking on cruise ships.

For more information, visit the CDC’s Before You Travel Tips.

Get your flu vaccine!

Influenza (flu) activity continues to be high in the U.S., including in Illinois. As of February 29, 2020, CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 34 million flu illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations and 20,000 deaths from flu.

Please get your annual flu vaccine if you have not yet done so. The flu shot is your best protection against the flu and reduces your chances of having complications which could result in hospitalization.

Illinois COVID-19 Hotline

Do you have questions? The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has established a COVID-19 hotline and email address to answer questions from the public:
Hotline: 1(800) 889-3931
Email: DPH.SICK@ILLINOIS.GOV
For additional information from the IDPH, visit: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus

COVID-19 Resources

CDC: Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities
Protect yourself and your community from getting and spreading respiratory illnesses like COVID-19.

Preparedness guides for specific groups:

Video: Lake County COVID-19 Update (March 4, 2020)

On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, staff from the Lake County Health Department presented to community leaders in collaboration with the Lake County Municipal League. Watch a video of the presentation.

Sign up to receive the Lake County Coronavirus Update E-mail here.

About the Village of Barrington 

Located just 40 miles from downtown Chicago, the Village of Barrington offers unique access to both the big city hustle & bustle plus the scenic beauty of a charming village setting surrounded by a wide variety of destinations for indoor & outdoor recreation including The Catlow Theater, restaurants, cafes, shops, parks, forest preserves, horse and hiking trails. Find the latest news & updates from the Village of Barrington at Barrington-il.gov.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Latest from Blog