COVID-19

Skokie Businesses - See Restore Illinois Phase 4 Guidelines

As of June 26, 2020, Skokie and the surrounding region transitioned to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois. The State of Illinois has developed a business toolkit with signage, posters and other resources to ensure business and activities are conducted in accordance with the latest public health recommendations including those of the Skokie Health Department. Phase 4 guidelines include five new industry categories and updated recommendations for the existing categories from Phase 3. Each set of guidelines includes a common set of guidelines that are expected and encouraged among all employers and activity types, as well as workplace and program-specific guidelines. See details of the Phase 4 guidance for businesses.

All Skokie businesses that choose to reopen or expand operations during Phase 4 are required to adhere to the guidelines for their sector. The Skokie Health Department is available to assist businesses with navigating the Restore Illinois Phase 4 Guidance. Please call the Environmental Health team at 847-933-8462 or email info@skokie.org if you would like someone to walk through the guidance with you, including making an on-site visit for a consultation. Businesses also are urged to report any cases of COVID-19 in the workforce, so that the health department team can work with you to prevent spread in your facility. All calls will be answered within one business day.  

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Sign up for COVID-19 Alerts when new information is posted on the website and be sure to also subscribe to SkokieNews for email advisories!

See the Skokie Spirit Shines Through! page with photos and messages of hope, encouragement and support from your Skokie neighbors, and for a link to print a poster for your window!

The Skokie Community Foundation has launched the Skokie Spirit Shines Through fundraising campaign! See details on how you can support the campaign. Since its launch in late March, 2020, the campaign has raised nearly $50,000 that the Village’s Office of Human Services is distributing to our Skokie neighbors in need during this difficult time. The Village is grateful to the Skokie Community Foundation for their partnership in this effort!

  1. Confirmed Cases - July 2, 2020

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
If you have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, you may have COVID-19. Please scroll down this page to see the expanded symptoms list in the red Symptoms tab and call NorthShore University HealthSystem’s hotline at 847-432-5849 as soon as possible to be screened for testing. See this information translated in Bulgarian, Chinese (Mandarin, Simplified and Traditional), Farsi, Gujarati, Italian, Korean, Pashto, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu/Hindi and Urdu.

There have been 984 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Skokie, with 33 deaths reported. 

These numbers are updated daily at approximately 4 p.m. These are confirmed cases of Skokie residents only. The first Skokie case was identified on March 14, 2020. Skokie residents confirmed to have COVID-19 range from three months to 99 years of age. The people who have died range in age from their 30s to their 90s and most had underlying health conditions. For statewide information, visit the IDPH webpage. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), underlying health conditions include but are not limited to asthma, kidney disease, diabetes, liver disease, serious heart conditions, severe obesity and more. See additional information from the CDC.

The following table is updated daily to summarize the total number of confirmed cases in Skokie, the number of Skokie residents who are currently ill, and unfortunately, the number of Skokie residents who have passed away due to the illness. People who are recovered or recovering are no longer hospitalized or under isolation.

Cumulative Covid-19 Counts, Table, July 2, 2020 (JPG)

Daily COVID-19 Case Count in Skokie

Daily Covid-19 Count July 2, 2020 (JPG)

  • The daily count of confirmed Skokie COVID-19 cases shows that people across the Village have successfully reduced transmission in our communities and "flattened the curve" by staying home, social distancing, giving each other space, wearing face coverings and washing their hands.
  • Although COVID-19 continues to spread in Skokie, it is in a controlled way, which means that area hospitals are not overwhelmed.
  • The number of deaths would be much higher if area hospitals were overwhelmed.

As reported by Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), during the daily press conferences, IDPH is regularly surveying people who have been ill with COVID-19, to learn when they are fully recovered, and has learned that:

  • 51% are fully recovered after 14 days
  • 74% are fully recovered after 28 days

Weekly graph showing the Skokie COVID-19 tests by week with the percent positive

Skokie Covid-19 PCR Tests Positivity Rate by Week, June 30, 2020 (JPG)

  • The number of Skokie residents being tested each week is steadily increasing
  • Skokie data is included with the Northeast region as a whole, as part of the Restore Illinois Plan
  • All tests in our region must be below 20% for 14 days to move to the next phase of the plan
  • The percent of positive tests in Skokie has been below 20% for eight weeks

These graphs were updated June 30, 2020, and are updated on Tuesday of each week:

See June 30, 2020 county-level data issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
If you have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, you may have COVID-19. Please scroll down this page to see the expanded symptoms list in the red Symptoms tab and call NorthShore University HealthSystem’s hotline at 847-432-5849 as soon as possible to be screened for testing.

  1. Communications Update

UPDATED: June 22, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.  

COVID-19 Antibody Testing Information and Resources

An antibody test, which is a blood test, can show if you had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19.  If you were ill with symptoms of COVID-19 since February 2020 and were not able to get tested, it might be useful to get an antibody test now to verify that you had the virus.  The antibody test does not diagnose a current infection with COVID-19. See information on local resources for COVID-19 antibody testing.

Not Feeling Well?

If you have a fever, cough or are short of breath, you might have COVID-19. If you are over age 60 or have underlying health conditions, you are at higher risk for serious complications from the disease. If you are at high risk and have any COVID-19 symptoms, please call the NorthShore University HealthSystem community health hotline at 847-432-5849 to be screened for a COVID-19 test. 

Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home. Keep track of your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), please call your physician or contact the NorthShore University HealthSystem community health hotline at 847-432-5849.

If you do not have a physician, please contact one of Skokie’s partner healthcare agencies serving uninsured and underinsured Skokie residents. See the list of providers here.

There are cases of COVID-19 throughout the community and the Skokie Health Department encourages all residents to wear cloth face coverings in public settings, practice good hand washing hygiene, etc. According to the CDC, recent evidence indicates that up to 25% of people with COVID-19 infection may not have symptoms and can still spread the disease. It is very important that you stay at home, even if you feel well.

Online Contact Tracing Certification Programs Announced

Governor J.B. Pritzker has announced plans to substantially expand the number of contact tracers in Illinois as part of the multi-pronged approach to control the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to have 30 contact tracers for every 100,000 people in Illinois.

Contact tracing is a specialized skill that requires training, and involves a bit of detective work, where people who have tested positive for COVID-19 are interviewed to determine everyone with whom they have had close contact during the time while they were infectious. Those individuals are then notified of their exposure, and the actions they should take to limit further spread of the disease. To protect privacy, contacts are only informed that they have been exposed to someone with the infection, not the identity of the person.

The Illinois contact tracer program is being rapidly developed. Skokie residents interested in serving as contact tracers need to take a certification course and apply via the www.illinoishelps.net link. Additional questions can be directed to illinois.helps@illinois.gov.

Here is information on two online contact tracing certification courses:

Oakton Community College is launching a "Public Health Contact Tracing Paraprofessional" course. The course is now being offered for at no cost, with tuition being underwritten by the Oakton Community College Education Foundation, and can be completed in as little as three weeks. See the OCC website for more information.

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials is offering "Making Contact: A Training for COVID-19 Contact Tracers", a free introductory online course for entry-level COVID-19 contact tracers. See additional information.

More information will be shared as it becomes available.

Information on Antibody Testing for COVID-19

The Village of Skokie is closely monitoring state and national developments with antibody testing for COVID-19. At present, though, there are no tests that are approved for detecting COVID-19 antibodies. Last week, the Skokie Health Department received several inquiries from Skokie residents asking for advice about participating in drive-through antibody testing in other suburbs. The Skokie Health Department warns residents to be very cautious about any testing of this type, as none have been approved by the CDC for detecting COVID-19 antibodies and potential immunity. The Skokie Health Department is hopeful that a test of this type will soon be available locally, and will provide information to the community at that time. See more information from the CDC.

Print an 8.5" by 11" Skokie Stay-At-Home, Save Lives window poster.
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Skokie Health Department Monitoring Situation

Skokie Health Department staff, with assistance from numerous other Village departments and divisions, continue to work hard on Skokie’s COVID-19 response. Each day, Skokie Health Department staff are in contact with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An inter-disciplinary, internal team of Village department and division managers meets regularly to review information updates and plan the Village’s continued COVID-19 response.  

The Skokie Health Department is working closely with Skokie Hospital, the IDPH and other community partners to investigate all cases. Due to confidentiality requirements, no additional information about specific cases of COVID-19 will be provided. The community is encouraged to continue following all of the requirements to wear cloth face coverings, practice social distancing and to practice good hand hygiene.

Useful Links

Please watch this video with helpful information about the COVID-19 virus.

Read previous coronavirus information updates from this page.

CDC Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Illinois Department of Public Health

COVID-19 Information in Arabic, Chinese, English, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish and Urdu

Read SkokieNews email newsletters from February 28, 2020 to present

Guidance for Grocery Shopping During the COVID-19 Pandemic from IDPH

  1. Symptoms
  2. How it Spreads
  3. Prevention
  4. What to Do if You Are Sick
  5. What to Know if You Call 9-1-1
  6. Important Information on Refuse and Recycling during COVID-19
  7. Travel Information
  8. Cloth Face Covering Info and Resources

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. Symptoms can include:

  • Loss or decrease in the sense of smell
  • Loss or decrease of the sense of taste
  • Fever – temperature of 100 or higher
  • Cough
  • Congestion
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Flu-like body aches

Symptoms may appear 2–14 days after exposure. According to the CDC, recent evidence indicates that up to 25% of people with COVID-19 infection may not have symptoms and can still spread the disease.  It is very important that you stay home, even if you feel well.







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