Alderman Bennett Lawson - 44th Ward Chicago

Alderman Bennett Lawson
44th Ward
Seal of Chicago

Articles under City Council News

Chicago COVID-19 News for You: March 21, 2020

Dear Chicago Residents and Partners,
The State’s order for Illinois residents to stay home will take effect today, March 21 at 5 p.m., and will remain in place until the Governor’s Disaster Proclamation expires on April 7, 2020. This critical intervention to reduce the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is intended to keep the public safe, contain the spread of the virus, and provide relief to the healthcare system. Moving right now to maximize social distancing and restrict people gathering is the best way to fight the virus and save lives.
 
To ensure the protection of all residents during this unprecedented public health challenge, the State’s order requires all residents to stay at home. This means that you will no longer be able to engage in public or private group activities, participate in social activities at bars or nightclubs, or take unnecessary trips. The order also closes non-essential businesses from any activity except minimum basic operations, which includes activities to preserve inventory, process payroll, or facilitate working from home.
With the order in place, you can still fulfill all of your essential needs, including traveling to obtain necessary supplies like food, pet supplies, medicine, or take-out food, as well as attending medical or mental health appointments. The order does not interfere with the operation of essential businesses. Hospitals, banks, grocery stores, utility companies, and home-based care services for seniors and people with disabilities will remain open to ensure all residents, including the most vulnerable populations, will have continued access to care and essential services.
 
We know that a lot of questions still remain. You can find answers to the most frequently asked questions on this stay-at-home order at chicago.gov/coronavirus. The website also offers many resources for residents and families in need of food, housing or health care, as well as employment and financial support resources for workers and small business owners.
 
In our city, we protect each other and look out for everyone’s health. So lay low, Chicago. Together, we will get through this.
What’s New
  • As part of an effort to ensure the health and safety of Chicago’s residents and City employees, and to prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 virus, City Hall is closed to the general public, effective Friday, March 20 and until an announcement to resume normal operations is made. Employees with proper identification are still permitted to access their respective floors in the building.
  • The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued citywide guidance around social distancing requirements, which are now in place for its own services. Effective this week, CDPH has suspended in-person services where possible, and is getting creative by using technology to better serve clients during this time. A full list of service updates can be found at chicago.gov/health.
  • All parks in the City of Chicago are closed effective March 20 at 5 p.m. Beginning Monday, March 23, the District will cancel enhanced programming currently offered at 18 park field houses. The Chicago Park District will continue to provide critical operations including garbage pick-up and security.
  • All Chicago Public Library (CPL) branches will close to the public effective March 21 at noon. Book drops will be locked at all locations during this period. CPL had already stopped charging overdue fines, and effective today library card holders with suspensions on their accounts because of over $30 of fees from items marked as “lost” will be able to check out online materials at chipublib.org once again. During this time, materials will automatically renew and accounts will not be blocked.
  • The Chicago Department of Family & Support Services (DFSS) continues to work closely with community partners to serve Chicago’s most vulnerable residents. All DFSS administered Senior Centers at non-Park District locations will remain open for one more week to provide pick-up meals, closing by March 27.
Latest Guidance
Additional Resources:
Tips For Keeping Chicago Healthy
  • Stay home as much as possible. 
  • Call to check on family, neighbors, and older adults instead of visiting. 
  • Check with your doctor about telehealth options.
In the News

CDPH: Chicago COVID-19 News for You

Dear Chicago Residents and Partners,
 
The City of Chicago is committed to providing leadership and help throughout the evolving COVID-19 crisis. As this situation develops, we will continue to offer resources and support to people across the city. In her primetime address on Wednesday night, Mayor Lightfoot announced several measures the City of Chicago is taking to combat the COVID-19 outbreak and support families, students and small businesses during this difficult time.
 
To help stem the further spread of the virus the City of Chicago issued a Public Health order requiring all residents with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or who are exhibiting symptoms to not leave their place of residence, go to work or any group settings.
 
Additionally, Mayor Lightfoot announced the extension of Chicago Public School (CPS) closures through April 20, 2020. Investments from partners at Citadel and Citadel Securities will be used to combat food insecurity amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The initiative includes $1 million in aid to sustain the food distribution locations at more than 500 schools to make meals available to all 355,000 CPS students. The remaining $1.5 million will go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository to support the Citywide Emergency Food Distribution Plan to serve other vulnerable Chicagoans.
 
In her primetime address to Chicagoans, Mayor Lightfoot also announced a new $100 million economic relief package to support Chicago’s small businesses that are experiencing a temporary loss of revenue as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. In partnership with the Catalyst Fund, the new Chicago Small Business Resiliency Loan Fund will provide more than $100 million in low-interest loans to severely impacted small businesses over the coming months, targeting historically under-resourced communities. The Mayor’s economic relief package also includes extended due dates for business-related tax payments until April 30, 2020.
 
Please continue to share information with your friends, neighbors and colleagues to ensure everyone is safe and receiving the help they need. You can access local, up-to-date information about COVID-19 on the CDPH website, chicago.gov/coronavirus.

What’s New

Testing: We know that you have a lot of questions about testing! Here’s what you need to know:

  • If you don’t have any symptoms, you do NOT need to be tested for COVID-19.
  • If you do NOT have a high-risk condition and your symptoms are mild, you do NOT need to be evaluated in person and do NOT need to be tested for COVID-19. There is no special medicine available for treating COVID-19 and you will receive the same advice whether or not you have a test. Most importantly – stay home away from others and help prevent COVID-19 from spreading to other people in our homes and communities.
  • If you’re at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 – call your physician’s office and ask if you need to be evaluated in person, even if your illness is mild. They may want to monitor your health more closely or test you for COVID-19.

Discontinuing Home Isolation: If you are sick, you must stay home away from others for:

  • at least 7 days since your symptoms first appeared; and
  • at least 3 days (72 hours) with no fever (without using fever-reducing medications) and improving symptoms.

Latest Guidance

Additional Resources:

Tips For Keeping Chicago Healthy

  • Stay home as much as possible.
  • If gatherings are necessary, limit the number of people to 10.
  • Call to check on family, neighbors, and older adults instead of visiting.
  • Check with your doctor about telehealth options.

In the News

 

‘THE DOC IS IN: ASK DR. ARWADY LIVE Q&A’

City launches daily ‘THE DOC IS IN: ASK DR. ARWADY LIVE Q&A’ with Chicago health commissioner to answer questions about ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) response  

Live daily briefings and Q&A sessions held daily on Twitter and Facebook Live to allow residents to submit questions and stay informed 

CHICAGO – As part of its ongoing efforts to provide residents with frequent and ongoing updates on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the City of Chicago’s Department of Public Health (CDPH) is announcing a new way for the public to engage and learn updates with ‘THE DOC IS IN: ASK DR. ARWADY,’ a new daily live-stream hosted by the City and CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. Starting today, THE DOC IS IN will be held daily at 11 a.m. on Twitter and Facebook Live, connecting residents directly with Chicago’s leading public health expert and occasional co-hosts, including experts from city departments and Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot.

Allison Arwady, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health, City of Chicago

“As Chicago faces this unprecedented moment, our comprehensive, proactive, and data-driven response has been led by Dr. Arwady and our outstanding team of public health professionals,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “This new livestream serves as the latest tool for City leaders to communicate directly with residents eager for the latest updates on this ongoing situation and empower them as they go about their daily lives. We are all in this together, and will continue to do everything to protect our city, secure the health and safety of our families, and keep our residents informed.”

Residents can submit their questions for Dr. Arwady from wherever they are by tweeting with the hashtag #AskDrArwady or by commenting on the livestreams to get answers in real-time. The daily social briefings will be hosted on all of the City’s social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter (www.facebook.com/ChicagoMayorsOffice and www.twitter.com/chicagosmayor).

“I know this has been a very confusing and disconcerting time for many people, so I’m excited to able to interact directly with them and answer their questions,” said Dr. Arwady. “In situations like this there can be a lot of misinformation out there, so I look forward to addressing the concerns people have and sharing what we have learned about this virus.”

Today’s social media briefings build on CDPH’s established call center to address questions and concerns from the public. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m, seven days a week, CDPH staff answer phones to provide the latest public health guidance to communities as part of ongoing efforts to help minimize transmission and ensure residents are taking the appropriate precautionary measures.

Dr. Arwady has been at CDPH since 2015, serving as Chief Medical Officer before being elevated to acting commissioner in June 2019 and then confirmed as commissioner in January. Prior to CDPH, she worked for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer. In that role, she focused on outbreak response, including international work on Ebola and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. She is a board-certified internal medicine physician and pediatrician, and continues to see primary care patients weekly.

 

For more information and updates on COVID-19, please visit chicago.gov/coronavirus.

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