Lake County Gazette

City of Highland Park issued the following announcement on Feb. 27.

The City of Highland Park has an emergency operations plan in place and is prepared in the event our area is impacted by the coronavirus disease or other emergency matters. The City Manager’s Office, Police, and Fire Departments are in communication with Highland Park Hospital, Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center, and Illinois Department of Public Health in addition to area partner agencies, and all are taking steps to prepare, prevent and recover should our area be impacted.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a number of recommendations for individuals and employers to stay healthy, prevent the spread of coronavirus, flu, the common cold, and other illnesses, as well as travel recommendations on their website: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/actions-prevent-flu.htm.  

Below are additional helpful web links and useful information related to the prevention and preparation of the Coronavirus.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website on how the virus is spread: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html?fbclid=IwAR05L52AMk2T490p0-fzwcyoeds8zvkgIs1B9325blPU0b3dAjMVqnQA3IM

Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center website: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/148/Health-Department-Community-Health-Cente?fbclid=IwAR3KoujZgm8oP_dh9ZPD-zFACoMoA2G_d_Q4qq4QvgvqS-hgmHn8zMS4EGM

Illinois Department of Public Health website: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/

Currently, there is no vaccine and no drugs for the Coronavirus, which leave us with non-pharmaceutical interventions, or NPIs. Here are some NPIs recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you 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 using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
• 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 readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

For more information about handwashing, visit CDC’s Handwashing website at https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/.

For information specific to healthcare, see CDC’s Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings at https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/index.html.

These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses.

View CDC’s specific guidance for travelers at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china.

If you have questions about the coronavirus, please contact the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center’s Illinois COVID-19 Hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or dph.sick@illinois.gov.

Original source can be found here.