Occasional Post / During recent City Council meetings, residents have expressed concerns regarding failure of the public to use facemasks and/or follow social 6′ distancing. The City is now featuring “masking up” in a public service promotion. When out and about dining, shopping and enjoying the attractions in Naperville, respecting others to keep counts low will help avoid additional mandates. Thanks to the Naperville Convention & Visitors Bureau for efforts to promote mask-wearing that help hotel guests stay safe, too.
Beginning in January and until July 31, 2020, PN regularly reported updates. We are grateful that the death rate has been on the decline in Naperville and, as of today (and since March 24, 2020), 494 patients have been discharged from Edward Hospital following treatment for confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Alert! On August 26, 2020, the Illinois Department of Public Health begins new Region 7 safety guidelines for restaurants and bars that includes Will County. New requirements to keep masks on while interacting with wait staff aim to prevent the spread and protect workers.
This page continues to connect to COVID-19 Case Counts* from the DuPage County Health Department, Will County Health Department and Illinois Department of Public Health. That said, we’d like to avoid turning reporting events into fearsome possibilities that feed panic and create anxiety.
Meanwhile, thanks for following ordered protocols that aim to keep everybody healthy in the land of the free as we strive for economic recovery, too. Keep track of numbers for comparisons. Click here to compare counts to July 31 , 2020. —PN
Note 3 Ws… Wash hands. Wear a facemask. Watch your distance.
Posted since June 15, 2020 / Here’s what to expect in Phase 4… With continued decline in the rate of infection in new cases, hospitals have capacity and can quickly adapt for a surge of new cases. Additional measures can be carefully lifted allowing private schools and child care programs to reopen with 6′ social distancing policies in place.
Restaurants can open with limited capacity and following strict public health procedures, including personal protective equipment for employees. Gatherings with 50 people or fewer will be permitted. Testing is widely available and tracing continues to keep the state on track.
Thanks for following ordered protocols to help protect others. Stay tuned and stay in touch with elected officials who represent Naperville voters in Springfield. Patience and perseverance are appreciated as recommended protocols in public places are advocated. Wash hands thoroughly and often. Cover coughs and sneezes always. Practice 6′ social distancing. Take time to breathe fresh air and absorb Vitamin D outdoors.
Stay hydrated, especially during the heat and humidity. Facemasks are touted to protect others.
A little more history… Phase 4 Restore Illinois began June 26, 2020.
Ongoing… Since January 22, 2020, when Edward Hospital first sent details about this pandemic, a “What You Should Know” post was updated regularly through March 18 until it simply was way too long. Ever since, this website has included COVID-19 frequent updates, first daily, then twice-weekly counts and now occasionally from DuPage County, Will County and Edward Hospital.
Let us emphasize that, of course, we’re concerned about the most vulnerable with underlying conditions (Diabetes, Lung Disease, Cancer, Immunodeficiency, Heart Disease, Hypertension, Asthma, Kidney Disease, GI/Liver Disease, and Obesity) and those in long-term medical facilities and nursing homes, individuals who count for the most deaths.
Without knowing what the next day, even the next hour, will present, PN continues to connect to www.worldometers.info where simple graphs and other data are easy to follow, country by country, even when data and models seem inconsistent, changing rapidly during these uncharted times.
Still, advice remains… Wash your hands often, but don’t wash away your common sense.
Help keep the community safe. If feeling sick, stay home and take in fresh air in your yard whenever possible. Since May 1, a face mask or bandana has been required inside public places. Continue covering coughs and sneezes whether coronavirus is epidemic or not.
Hold onto hugs for future giving. Keep a 6′ social distance when taking walks to appreciate nature. Enjoy the flowers of summer in every neighbor’s garden. Remember to share smiles and moments of laughter. Sing. Call family and friends.
Have faith, hope and charity to fulfill unmet needs of less fortunate and vulnerable individuals.
Support local businesses whenever possible. Many businesses and restaurants are now open, following protocols, and also offering personal service with curbside pickup. Just ask.
For good health and prevention, take care of all personal health conditions and dental hygiene, too.
Practice safety measures and continue vigilance. Have high hopes that the whole wide world will be getting back to full-time and part-time work soon.
We surely miss being free and out on the beat. Everybody we know is eager to get back to work, too. —PN
City of Naperville / DuPage County
Update / August 25, 2020 / COVID-19 Case Counts* for DuPage County residents are 13,967, including 531 deaths. (Since yesterday, 96 new cases of COVID-19 in DuPage County and two new deaths of persons with COVID-19 infection reported.)
Additional Link! To view the DuPage County COVID-19 Dashboard, visit www.dupagehealth.org. In addition to the data dashboard, information is provided about COVID-19 cases and deaths among DuPage County residents by race, ethnicity, and severity.
Additional Link! Naperville-area Dashboard / To better monitor the status of the virus in our area and its impact on our community, the City also has published a dashboard with Naperville-area COVID-19 information at www.naperville.il.us/coronavirus-resources.
Stay informed about COVID-19 in DuPage County & beyond
For DuPage County information, reference the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) website at www.dupagehealth.org/covid19.
City of Naperville / Will County
Update, August 25, 2020 / Click here to link to Will County Case Counts. 11,020 Confirmed Cases / 357 Deaths Reported
Then there’s Illinois with 102 counties…
Update: August 25, 2020, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported another 1,680 cases of COVID-19 and an additional 29 deaths in Illinois since yesterday, bringing the totals to 223,470 and 7,917 respectively.
To date, 102 of Illinois’ 102 counties have been impacted, according to IDPH.
For Illinois statewide information, reference the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) COVID-19 website at www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19.
What are COVID-19 symptoms?
According to the CDC, reported COVID-19 symptoms range from mild flu-like symptoms to severe illness and likely appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms for the respiratory illness have included fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
Individuals who develop any of the above-listed symptoms are urged to contact your healthcare provider and stay at home except for medical care.
If you’re feeling sick, stay home!
Add cloth-covering face masks to practice of 6′ social distancing
A face mask became a must-wear inside public places on May 1. Beginning August 26, new and more stringent measures will be put in place in Will County to slow the spread of COVID-19. What’s more, measures imposed in Will County include a ban on indoor dining, an 11PM closing time for all bars and restaurants, and a cap of 25 people or 25% room capacity for all gatherings, social events and meetings, among other restrictions.
These additional mitigations for Will County will remain in effect for 14 days, after which time the region will return to Phase 4 of the state’s Restore Illinois Plan. If metrics do not improve, the new mitigations will be extended, or more stringent mitigation measures will be imposed. For more information about the state’s mitigation plan, click here.
For Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues, reference their Coronavirus COVID-19 website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
Prayers and condolences to the families and caregivers of all individuals battling COVID-19 and ones who have died. Efforts continue with healthcare and community partners to reduce COVID-19 transmission in DuPage County and Will County as well as Illinois, the U.S. and the world.
Click here for advice from Edward regarding need for emergency care.
Illinois Testing Sites
The DuPage County COVID-19 Testing Site, which is on the County Campus off County Farm Road in Wheaton, is open Tuesday through Saturday, 7AM to 2PM OR until 400 tests are completed each day.
(Click here) for an Illinois Testing sight near you…
Call 4 Calm (mental health support / free help service)
Individuals struggling with stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic who need emotional support, can text TALK to 552020 for English or HABLAR for Spanish. This service is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People seeking assistance will remain anonymous and will provide only their first name and zip code, which enables the service to link you to a counselor in your area who is knowledgeable about available local resources. Land line users can call (217) 545-5100 for assistance.
Special thanks to frontline responders and to all individuals working to serve the community every day. Our hearts go out to everyone especially challenged. Jobs are important and essential for all.
Update, 8:57AM August 26, 2020 / Edward Hospital is treating fifteen (15) inpatients with confirmed cases of COVID-19. There were no reported deaths of inpatients with a confirmed case of COVID-19 over the last 24 hours. To date, Edward has had 47 deaths of patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19.
One inpatient with confirmed cases of COVID-19 was discharged from Edward Hospital over the last 24 hours. Since March 24, 494 patients have been discharged from Edward Hospital following treatment for confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Thanks to special care from frontline providers and everyone’s practicing safe protocol that assisted in sending home 494 patients from Edward Hospital in Naperville.
Continue to follow protocols in Phase 4 of Restore Illinois. Keep Illinois moving forward to Phase 5 when all will be able to reopen. Meanwhile, support your local business community whenever possible.
Remember… From August 26 through September 9, 2020, follow new protocols issued for Will County, District 7.
