Mayor Lightfoot, Governor Pritzker, Public Health and Chicago Public Schools Officials Announce New Presumptive Positive Case Of Coronavirus Disease 2019
CHICAGO - Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Governor JB Pritzker, and officials from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today a new presumptive positive case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The patient is a Chicago woman in her 50s who is an employee at Jacqueline B. Vaughn Occupational High School in the Portage Park neighborhood, which will be closed next week out of an abundance of caution. She is currently hospitalized and in stable condition. CDPH and CPS are reaching out individually to connect with all students and their families as well as school employees.
- Residents are encouraged to use the same precautions as advised for cold and flu season, such as performing frequent hand hygiene, washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%–95% alcohol; covering your cough and sneeze; avoiding ill people; and staying home when sick (except to seek medical care). For more information, see CDPH’s Guidance for Individuals and Households.
- Healthcare providers should be on the look-out for people with fever and respiratory symptoms and ask for detailed travel history. Follow CDC’s Guidance for Healthcare Professionals.
- Childcare programs, K-12 schools and colleges/universities should review their emergency operations plans, including strategies for social distancing and on-line learning. Schools should consider postponing or cancelling student foreign exchange programs.
- Businesses and employers should actively encourage sick employees to stay home when sick, perform hand hygiene, and cover coughs and sneezes. Businesses should review their emergency operations plan, including identification of essential business functions, teleworking and flexible sick leave policies. For more information, see CDPH’sCOVID-19 Guidance for Businesses and Employers.
- Community- and faith-based organizations should review existing emergency operations plans. See CDPH’s COVID-19 Guidance for Community- and Faith-based Organizations and CDC’s Interim Guidance: Get Your Mass Gatherings or Large Community Events Ready for COVID-19.
“The health and wellness of our students and staff are the district’s highest priority. We are working closely with local health officials to respond immediately to the situation,” said Dr. Kenneth Fox, M.D., Chief Health Officer, Chicago Public Schools. “Vaughn HS serves a special student population and the district will be focused on supporting them every step of the way.”
More information and updates on COVID-19 can be found on the IDPH website, the CDPH website, and the CDC website. You can also contact the Chicago Department of Public Health at 312.746.4835 or coronavirus@chicago.gov.###