City of Highland Park eNews

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March 26, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Demand for COVID-19 vaccines continues to far exceed supply. The City will continue to keep you updated on the vaccine rollout in Lake County in eNews and at cityhpil.com/vaccine.

The following websites may help you make a vaccine appointment:

Appointment Aggregators:

For Seniors 65+

Pharmacies:

State of IL COVID-19 Vaccine Finder

Toll-Free Vaccine Appointment Call Center

833.621.1284 (available daily, 6 AM to midnight; TTY accessible)

Capt. James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center

Availability expanded to all current VA and TRICARE patients enrolled for care at Lovell FHCC, age 18 and older. Call 224.610.3899.

COVID-19 News

The Special Enrollment Period for health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace has been extended to August 15, 2021.
CDC has prepared a guide to help people talk to friends and family about the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
FDA continues to update its do-not-use list of hand sanitizers. Hand sanitizers are added to the list due to a variety of safety concerns, including microbial contamination and toxic ingredients.
A new CDC report finds that the percentage of adults reporting symptoms of anxiety or depression has increased during the pandemic. CDC has strategies to help cope with the stress of the pandemic, and information about how to get help if you are struggling.
Learn how to increase ventilation in your home if you are having guests, service technicians, or other visitors.
FDA reminds Americans to report fraudulent COVID-19 tests, vaccines, and treatments. Fraudulent products falsely promising to prevent or treat COVID-19 are a danger to public health.

AllVax Opens Appointments to

All Lake County Seniors 65+

All Lake County residents age 65+ are now eligible to register for a COVID-19 vaccine through the AllVax portal! Seniors age 65+ with a Lake County zip code will be able to make appointments as they become available. Seniors 65+ should have received an email from AllVax with more information. If you did not receive the email, visit allvax.lakecohealth.org to log in to your account and get started.

In addition, all Lake County seniors (age 65+) may now register for vaccination appointments at the Greenbelt Cultural Center (1215 Green Bay Road, North Chicago). Appointments are limited and may be requested using this online form or by calling 847.582.1362.

IDPH Monitoring Rise in

COVID-19 Cases

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is monitoring an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions. Since March 8, Illinois has seen 10 days of increases in the seven-day rolling average for hospital admissions. The COVID-19 test positivity on March 10 was 2.5%. The reported test positivity for March 26 is 3.3%.

IDPH has taken several steps to address the first signs of a possible resurgence of COVID-19, including:

Deploying rapid-response vaccination teams to high-risk areas
Expanding vaccine eligibility in areas where demand has waned
Continuing with Phase 4 guidelines as indicated by health metrics

Individuals can help fight a resurgence of COVID-19 by continuing to practice the 3Ws (wear a mask over your nose and mouth, watch your distance by staying six feet from others, and wash your hands thoroughly).

ComEd to Temporarily Close Portions of Deerfield Rd. March 29 & 30 for Ongoing Utility Pole Work

ComEd's infrastructure upgrades along Deerfield Rd. will continue on Monday and Tuesday, March 29 and 30. As part of the upgrade, utility poles will be replaced to increase service reliability. No outages are anticipated. The planned road closures will be:

March 29, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Eastbound Deerfield Rd. closed at Central Ave.; no impact to westbound traffic

March 30, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Full closure of Deerfield Rd. between Hickory St. and McGovern St.

Please drive with caution and follow the detour signs; review the map below to see the impacted areas. Flaggers will be onsite to provide access to homes impacted by the closure.

If you have any questions about this utility work, please contact ComEd at 1.800.EDISON-1 (800.334.7661) or you may email the City.

Recent Questions

Any update on the regional vaccination center at the Patty Turner Center in Deerfield?

Vaccinations are anticipated to begin in late March/early April although there is no hard start date at this time. Appointments will be available for scheduling through AllVax when available.

The City will share information about this new vaccination site via social media, eNews, and our website at cityhpil.com/vaccine.

How can seniors access transportation assistance?

Faith in Action is partnering with GoGoGrandparent to offer non-emergency transportation services for medical appointments and essential errands at no cost to qualified seniors. Call 847.721.8414 or email [email protected].
ElderCare Lake County provides free transportation to medical appointments and assistance with grocery shopping. Learn more at eldercarelakecounty.org.
Moraine Township’s Door-to-Door van operates weekdays 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM and is available to Township residents age 65 or older, or disabled. Caregivers are required to accompany wheelchair riders (caregivers ride free). Cost is $4.00 per trip; $2.00 for income-qualified residents. Call 847.432.3000 to schedule a ride.

What should I do if I've been fully vaccinated?

According to the CDC, adults are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If you've been fully vaccinated, please continue to:

Wear a face covering in public settings;
Maintain a distance of six feet from others in public;
Follow CDC guidelines on small social gatherings.

Where can I learn more about assistance programs in Lake County?

Moraine Township provides emergency and general assistance programs to help residents weather the challenges caused by emergency situations, loss of employment, and more. Contact Moraine Township at 847.432.3240.

Lake County residents can also reach out to 211 at 211LakeCounty.org to learn more about County-wide food, housing, utility, and other assistance. Dial 211 or text your zip code to 898211.

How can I help with COVID-19 response efforts?

Help staff the AllVax Senior Helpline during high-volume call hours designated for seniors. Email [email protected].
Consider donating blood. There is a national shortage of blood. Local blood donation centers include Vitalant (formerly LifeSource) and the American Red Cross.
The Lake County Health Department and the Lake County Sheriff's Office welcome encouraging notes to frontline workers. Email [email protected] and your message will be shared. Send an encouraging message to NorthShore Highland Park Hospital here.
If you have a valid medical license, volunteer to assist with vaccination efforts via the Lake County Medical Reserve Corps.

Post-Travel COVID-19 Testing

CDC recommends that travelers take precautions to avoid spreading COVID-19 upon returning home, including getting tested for COVID-19 3-5 days after travel. Plan to stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after your return, even if your test is negative. Continue to watch for symptoms of COVID-19 and take precautions to protect others.

Free COVID-19 testing will be available at the Highland Park Metra Station (1700 St. Johns) every Friday in April through April 16, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel. Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements after travel.

Learn more about traveling during COVID-19.

Illinois Strong Initiative Launched

The Illinois Department of Health and Human Services has launched Illinois Strong, a new initiative to provide direct support to those who may be struggling to cope with the stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic. Through the program, IDHS will partner with community providers to offer free COVID-19 crisis counseling and other mental health services for those struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to providing free crisis counseling, Illinois Strong will also help Illinoisans take advantage of state-provided resources, such as food, housing, health care, and cash assistance.

Sourcing:

The City of Highland Park does not have its own health department. The information in this email is derived from the Lake County Health Department, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Questions pertaining to the distribution, scheduling, or administration of the vaccine should be directed to the Lake County Health Department. The City does not schedule appointments for or administer COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19 Resources

The City regularly shares updates regarding the COVID-19 situation on its website at cityhpil.com/covid-19. Resources on the City's website include: