Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

The City of Elmhurst has taken a proactive stance in being prepared for the coronavirus illness in conjunction with our local hospital, Edward Elmhurst, our resources hospital, Good Samaritan, and our partners at the DuPage County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is posting updates on its website that include summaries outlining case numbers and a map and list of affected states and countries.

Illinois COVID-19 Hotline and Email Address

If you have questions about Coronavirus-
Call the Illinois Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Hotline 1(800) 889-3931 or,
Send an email to: DPH.SICK@ILLINOIS.GOV 
Anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What is a Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, that include the common cold to more serious diseases such as pneumonia. Some can cause illness in people, and others that circulate among animals including camels, cats, and bats. Animal coronaviruses rarely spread to people.

This new coronavirus was originally thought to be spreading from animal-to-person, but a large number of patients have not had exposure to animal markets, which means the virus is spreading person-to-person.

Human coronaviruses are common throughout the world and commonly cause mild to moderate illness in people worldwide. However, the emergence of new coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS, have caused more severe respiratory (breathing) illness.

Although the Illinois Department of health has indicated that the current risk to Illinoisans remains low, please take note of these precautions:

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty

Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.

• CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
• Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

For more background information on the coronavirus and for the latest updates, please use the following links:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html