Full Notification

The State of Illinois has greatly expanded its testing capacity recently: over 14,000 and yesterday over 16,000 were tested as people with less severe and fewer symptoms are now being tested. Since yesterday, only one additional case has been reported in the Village, this one occurring on the Cook side. Since April 14, there are 14 fewer total cases. With a big increase in testing, this continues to mark several successive days with fewer active cases than 14 days ago. The curve is now bending downward for the Village as well as in many communities in DuPage County; let us hope that it begins to bend downward statewide in the coming days.

I was on another call with many DuPage County mayors as we continue to explore plans for discussing a phased re-opening of the economy in May with the Governor. I noted that the IDPH acknowledges that there will not be a vaccine this year, as well as that Region 8 hospitals currently have significant unused capacities for treatment, ICU beds and ventilators. The discussion is focusing around how we might be able to open the economy as soon as is feasible while allowing for a controlled amount of new positive cases so as to protect our health systems. While such an endeavor requires striking a delicate balance, it is a discussion worth having in my opinion. If you want to share a thought on this subject, please email me at [email protected].

In addition to our discussion about hospital capacity, the IDPH and DuPage County Health Department both acknowledged that high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes are the highest risk factors for predicting severe illness or death from COVID-19. As for symptoms, initially only three symptoms were early indicators of COVID-19 infection: fever, cough and shortness of breath. The CDC yesterday added six more symptoms for a person with COVID-19 might be expected to experience. They include chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste and/or smell.

All of our donated masks were taken by residents yesterday – about 2,000 of them, so we are looking for more. Remember to wear face coverings or masks when you must go outside and interact in public at the store, gas station or other places where the public also is present. You will be required to wear face coverings or masks starting Friday under the Governor’s revised SAH Order. With that in mind, I offer this quote for today: