Westmont, Illinois
Date Issued: March 5, 2020
“The primary objective of our Westmont emergency services is to be trained and prepared to respond to emergency situations,” said Westmont Fire Chief Steve Riley. “With the Coronavirus, we are paying close attention to the impact of this situation and working closely with our County, State, and Federal agencies to ensure that we are doing all we can to keep our citizens safe.”
The DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) is the county’s lead agency and is closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19. DCHD is in regular communication with, and following guidance provided by, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). DCHD Communicable Disease and Epidemiology staff is monitoring and investigating disease transmission and response. The DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is working closely with DCHD and local emergency preparedness officials as well as first responders to support the community as well as exchanging information and answering questions from hospitals, schools, businesses, and community partners.
The CDC urges the public to follow these steps to slow the spread of this emerging virus:
- Stay home when you are sick with flu-like or respiratory disease symptoms. At the present time, these symptoms are more likely due to influenza or other respiratory viruses than to COVID-19-related virus. Seek medical attention as needed.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash can.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- 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 percent alcohol. Then wash your hands with soap and water as soon as possible. Always wash hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
- Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
EVALUATING THE SERIOUSNESS OF YOUR SITUATION
The Westmont Fire Department encourages residents to use the following protocols when self-evaluating your health needs and determining the appropriate response:
- If you feel ill and you believe you were in contact with someone that had Coronavirus, then contact the Coronavirus Disease Hotline at 1-800-889-3931.
- If you feel ill and your symptoms are similar to the seasonal flu, then contact your usual medical provider if you feel you need medical care. Do not go to a hospital emergency room.
- If you are having a serious medical emergency such as difficulty breathing, call 9-1-1 or go to a hospital emergency room.
- When in doubt, call 9-1-1.
For the latest local information regarding the coronavirus, please visit the DuPage County Health Department webpage at
www.dupagehealth.org or the Illinois Department of Public Health at
www.dph.illinois.gov People seeking a hotline can also call the Illinois Coronavirus Disease Hotline at 1-800-889-3931.
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