The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Public Health officials coordinating coronavirus response

March 9, 2020 – As concern over the spread of coronavirus continues to grow, Oak Park Public Health officials are working closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that are managing the state and national response. 

State public health officials say they are committed to working with local and federal agencies to ensure Illinois is prepared should COVID-19 – the illness caused by the virus - become more prevalent in Illinois communities. They have set up a telephone hotline - 800.889.3931 - anyone can call to get answers to questions about the virus. Inquiries also can be sent to Dph.sick@illinois.gov.

Since no anti-viral prevention treatment currently is available for the virus, officials say taking common sense precautions is the best approach to adopt.

“For individuals, the best strategy at this point is to use every day preventive actions including staying home when sick, covering coughs and sneezes, frequent handwashing and routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces and objects,” said Oak Public Health Director Mike Charley.

In the meantime, Charley said the Oak Park Public Health Department will continue to monitor the situation and follow the lead of the state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should circumstances change.

The IDPH and CDC are providing almost daily written briefings and updates as well has hosting teleconferences for local public health officials, he said.

IDPH officials say Illinois hospitals are being assessed to determine available capacity should more people need medical care and the availability of personal protective equipment such as gloves, gowns and masks for health care workers are being catalogued and monitored as well.

For more information about how to stay healthy, visit www.cdc.gov/nonpharmaceutical-interventions. While these materials reference influenza, the information and actions still apply for at home, school, work and gatherings.

Click on the links below for more information: