Lake County Board of Health Met Nov. 18.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
1. Call to Order
Vice President Hagstrom called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.
Present 10 - Member Cesnovar, Member Maine, Member Carlson, Member Rheault Ph.D., Member Hagstrom D.D.S., Member Ehrlich M.D., Member Belmonte D.O., Member Mittl Pollina Psy.D., Member DeVaux and Member Johnson Jones Ed.D.
Absent 2 - President Sashko and Member Schultz
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Nomination of Officers for 2021-2022
3.1 Nomination of Officers for 2021-2022 - Ehrlich
Nominating Committee Chair Ehrlich presented the committee's nomination of officers for 2021-2022. Nominations were: President Tim Sashko, Vice President Jay Ehrlich, At-Large Member Carl Hagstrom, Secretary Lucille DeVaux, At-Large-Member Ann Maine.
A motion was made by Member Carlson, seconded by Member Belmonte, to approve the slate of officers for 2021 as presented. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.
Aye: 10 - Member Cesnovar, Member Maine, Member Carlson, Member Rheault Ph.D., Member Hagstrom D.D.S., Member Ehrlich M.D., Member Belmonte D.O., Member Mittl Pollina Psy.D., Member DeVaux and Member Johnson Jones Ed.D.
Absent: 2 - President Sashko and Member Schultz
4. Approval of Minutes
4.1 October 28, 2020 Meeting Minutes
A motion was made by Member Ehrlich, seconded by Member Johnson Jones, that the minutes be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.
Aye: 10 - Member Cesnovar, Member Maine, Member Carlson, Member Rheault Ph.D., Member Hagstrom D.D.S., Member Ehrlich M.D., Member Belmonte D.O., Member Mittl Pollina Psy.D., Member DeVaux and Member Johnson Jones Ed.D.
Absent: 2 - President Sashko and Member Schultz
5. Public Comment to the Board
None
6. Awards, Recognitions, Appointments and Reappointments
Executive Director Mark Pfister recognized two individuals in attendance at the meeting.
Member Pollina celebrated her birthday on Tuesday, December 17. Laura Schneider, Policy Analyst, will be retiring as of Friday, December 4, 2020, after 30+ years of service with the Health Department. Laura has been tremendous in assisting with legislation affecting public health and with many aspects of strategic planning and she is to be commended for her service to the Lake County Health Department and to the Lake County community.
7. Presentations
None
8. President’s Report
In President Sashko's absence, Mark Pfister provided the following update:
--Lake County now has 30,468 COVID-19 cases and 556 deaths. The majority of deaths are linked to long-term care facilities, but those numbers have been dropping as of late. The majority of individuals who have died are age 60+ with underlying medical conditions.
--The Region 9 positivity rate has dropped over the last few days from 17% to 16%. Lake County's recent high was 15.5% which has now declined to 14.6%.
--The incidence rate continues to climb and we are at an exponential rate of new cases in Lake County, with a daily incidence rate of 85 per 100,000 population. An average of 600 new cases per day.
--Governor Pritzker just announced that the State is moving in to Tier 3, completely skipping over Tier 2, because conditions have become so bad. Tier 3 recommends that people stay home, work from home whenever possible, and only go out for essential services.
--Lake County hospitals continue to get closer to the 20% threshold for medical and surgical beds. ICU beds continue to hold at around 40-50%.
--Pfizer and Moderna have both developed a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. Pfizer states that their vaccine is 95% effective while Moderna states that their's is 94.5% effective. Both companies still have to submit their data to the FDA and external committee for review of efficacy and safety. One of the twenty external committee members is from Rosalind Franklin University.
--Pfizer's vaccine requires ultra-cold storage and Member Rheault has informed Mark that RFUMS has ultra-cold freezers available for the Health Department's use, should they need them. The Health Department has already purchased one ultra-cold freezer and should be receiving it soon. Moderna's vaccine can be maintained in a regular freezer, down to -20C.
--Pfizer's vaccine will be distributed out of Pleasant Prairie, WI, just 15 minutes north of Waukegan, so it will interesting to see what effect that will have.
--Jefferson McMillan-Wilhoit and his team are working diligently as the County Board approved $7M for a system through which individuals can schedule their vaccination appointments. The system will also track vaccinations and issue reminders as both vaccines require 2 doses within 21-28 days.
--Hospitals will receive their own shipments of vaccine and have their own closed PODs.
--The Health Department's PHEOC will be reinstated in early December depending on the outcome of the vaccine data review by the FDA and the external committee. Both vaccines still need to receive their emergency use authorization.
--The first groups to receive the vaccine are Phase 1A, health care workers working with high risk people, and Phase 1B, long-term care facilities and those with underlying medical conditions. Phase 2 vaccinations will not be seen until mid-Spring.
Member Maine asked if contact tracers have been able to keep up with the increasing numbers and are people cooperating when called. Mark stated that contact tracers are having a difficult time keeping up despite the hiring of 100+ additional people. We are prioritizing by making sure contact tracers are calling the cases first to get those cases isolated, and then a text is being sent to the case contacts. As for cooperation on the part of case contacts, some individuals are but there are still many unwilling to share who they have been in contact with and where they have been, and whether or not they are going to isolate or quarantine. Contact tracers have said they can tell by an individuals responses and questions whether or not they are going to follow Health Department advice. If there are Health Department programs that need to shut down as a result of COVID-19, those staff will be re-purposed to assist with contact tracing or mass vaccination planning and response. Member Maine asked if vaccines will be directly allocated to the Health Department or are they going to the State and the State will be responsible for allocation. Mark explained that with the exception of the City of Chicago, who will receive theirs directly from the Feds, the allocations will come through the State. The Health Department will be responsible for distribution and mass vaccination through an open POD.
Jerry Nordstrom, Director of Business Operations provided the following updates:
--On September 10, 2020, a data breach was identified in the transmission of COVID-19 test results to long-term care facilities as it related to residents and staff. From early June through August, Health Department staff were not properly encrypting spreadsheets leaving personal data exposed. Upon discovering the issue, a correction to the process was implemented and Health Department staff worked to determine the scope of the breach. The information was released only to authorized long-term care facility staff and it did not contain social security numbers or financial information. It did include name, address, phone number, date of birth, and COVID-19 test result. A risk assessment lead to the decision to notify the US Department of Health and Human Services. Also required, because it affected more than 500 individuals, was a notice to the Lake County News Sun, which was shared with the Board last week. It was determined there were approximately 3,800 individuals affected by this breach and a letter was sent to each of them. The long-term care facilities were also informed and asked to assist by deleting the information previously sent to them. A questionnaire is being sent to the Health Department by the Department of Health and Human Services to gather additional details and upon completion of their review they will make a determination as to whether or not there is anything else the Health Department needs to do or if there are any consequences as a result of the breach. Calls received from the individuals affected as a result of the letter sent to them are being handled by Shalina Richie, Privacy Officer. Member Ehrlich asked if anything has been heard from anyone as a result of the notification. Jerry stated that as of yesterday, November 17, approximately 6 calls have been received and Shalina is in the process of making return calls to those individuals, but more are expected as it has only been 10-12 days since the letters were sent out.
--The in-ground heated sidewalk at the front entrance of 3010 Grand has been installed but the concrete work is substandard in numerous ways, most importantly in the installation of the ADA handicap accessible ramps from the parking lot to the sidewalk. In consultation with the architects, County facilities, and other experts, the contractors proposed remedies have been rejected and we are awaiting their response. Ultimately, in Spring/Summer 2021, whether by the choice of the contractor in collaboration with the Health Department or by other means, it will all be torn out again and replaced.
9. Action Items
9.1 COVID-19 SASS Children's Mental Health Initiative Grant - $149,940 - Grant Approval - Johnson-Maurello
A motion was made by Member Johnson Jones, seconded by Member Ehrlich, that
this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.
Aye: 10 - Member Cesnovar, Member Maine, Member Carlson, Member Rheault Ph.D., Member Hagstrom D.D.S., Member Ehrlich M.D., Member Belmonte D.O., Member Mittl Pollina Psy.D., Member DeVaux and Member Johnson Jones Ed.D.
Absent: 2 - President Sashko and Member Schultz
9.2 Schreiber Family Foundation - Coordinated Intake Program - $88,600 - Grant Approval - McMillan-Wilhoit
Member DeVaux asked if the position funded through this grant is a new individual or someone from within the Health Department. Jefferson stated that it is a current employee whose position was on the reduction in force (RIF) list and to be in compliance with the budget for next year we were able to move them in to a grant funded position.
A motion was made by Member Maine, seconded by Member Rheault, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.
Aye: 10 - Member Cesnovar, Member Maine, Member Carlson, Member Rheault Ph.D., Member Hagstrom D.D.S., Member Ehrlich M.D., Member Belmonte D.O., Member Mittl Pollina Psy.D., Member DeVaux and Member Johnson Jones Ed.D.
Absent: 2 - President Sashko and Member Schultz
9.3
Anti-Vaping Marketing Campaign - Nordstrom
A motion was made by Member DeVaux, seconded by Member Belmonte, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.
Aye: 10 - Member Cesnovar, Member Maine, Member Carlson, Member Rheault Ph.D., Member Hagstrom D.D.S., Member Ehrlich M.D., Member Belmonte D.O., Member Mittl Pollina Psy.D., Member DeVaux and Member Johnson Jones Ed.D.
Absent: 2 - President Sashko and Member Schultz
9.4 Annual Routine Action Items - Nordstrom
A motion was made by Member Ehrlich, seconded by Member DeVaux, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.
Aye: 10 - Member Cesnovar, Member Maine, Member Carlson, Member Rheault Ph.D., Member Hagstrom D.D.S., Member Ehrlich M.D., Member Belmonte D.O., Member Mittl Pollina Psy.D., Member DeVaux and Member Johnson Jones Ed.D.
Absent: 2 - President Sashko and Member Schultz
9.5 Proposed Changes to Health Department Employee Policies - Hagstrom
Personnel Committee Chair Hagstrom informed the Board that the committee met just prior to this regular meeting and recommends approval of the policies presented.
A motion was made by Member Belmonte, seconded by Member Maine, that this item be approved. Roll call vote taken, all in favor, motion carried.
Aye: 10 - Member Cesnovar, Member Maine, Member Carlson, Member Rheault Ph.D., Member Hagstrom D.D.S., Member Ehrlich M.D., Member Belmonte D.O., Member Mittl Pollina Psy.D., Member DeVaux and Member Johnson Jones Ed.D.
Absent: 2 - President Sashko and Member Schultz
10. Discussion Items
None
11. Attachments for Board Review
11.1 Media Placement Highlights - Nordstrom
This matter was presented
12. Lake County Community Health Center Governing Council Update
Dr. Zun informed the Board that due to the increase in COVID-19 cases substantially
more patients are being seen in the clinics with COVID and COVID-like symptoms. As a result, the respiratory illness clinic (RIC) will be reinstated at the North Chicago Health Center at the end of November or early December so that services can be centralized, and exposure of other patients and staff can be limited. This time we will be renting and utilizing five mobile container units in which to provide COVID-19 patient care so that other services provided within the clinic can continue rather than be moved to another site. There will be two providers working 8 hours a day, seeing approximately 30 RIC patients per day. Telehealth services will be used for follow-up on those patients.
13. Lake County Tuberculosis Board Update
Member DeVaux informed the Board that the next meeting of the TB Board is tomorrow, Thursday, November 19, 2020.
14. Added to Agenda Items
None
15. Old Business
None
16. New Business
None
17. Executive Session
None
18. Adjournment
Vice President Hagstrom adjourned the meeting at 6:41 p.m.
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