LEE COUNTY — Lee County moves to Phase 3 of Governor Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” plan today.  This includes significant changes from the most recent “Stay at Home” order.  Beginning today, all non-essential retail stores, salons, and spas can re-open for business with reduced occupancy limits and specific guidelines.  Taverns and restaurants are allowed to provide on-site food and beverage service outdoors with specific approvals.  Health and fitness classes can resume outside only.  Gatherings of 10 or fewer people will be allowed.  Youth sports will be able to resume practice with “no contact” restrictions, following social distancing.  Non-essential manufacturers can reopen with social distancing and face covering restrictions.  Outdoor recreation restrictions will be reduced.  Summer day camps will be allowed to begin with restrictions. 

The following guidelines remain in place 

• Face coverings
• Social distancing
• Frequent handwashing
• Frequent cleaning of high touch-point spaces

For complete details on “Restore Illinois” Phase 3 guidelines, click on this link:  https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/Pages/RestoreILP3.aspx

Since Governor Prizker’s announcement on Phase 3, the Lee County Health Department, City of Dixon, and Dixon Chamber of Commerce and Main Street have worked closely with tavern and restaurant owners to prepare for outdoor beverage and food service.  

A few highlights of the State of Illinois guidelines:

• Tables must be limited to 6 people or less
• Tables must be a minimum of 6 feet apart
• Employees should wear face coverings when they cannot maintain social distancing
• Customers should wear face coverings when not seated at their table

Additional guidelines and information can be found at the link provided above.

The Lee County Health Department reminds facilities that if you are planning to re-open next week or any time during Phase 3, please send a written plan that shows how you will adhere to the Phase 3 Recovery Restaurant & Bars for Outdoor Dining Guidelines for approval to kwright@lchd.com. An email with more specifics was sent out yesterday afternoon, so please be sure to check for it. If you don't receive a Phase 3 permit from LCHD you are not permitted for outside service.  There is no charge for the permit. Please submit plans ASAP, to allow time for review.  A good number of permits were granted today.

The health department also announces the resumption of immunization appointments.  Temporarily, these were deferred as it was all hands-on deck with health department staff responding to COVID-19.  Appointments begin next week; to schedule please call 284-3371. 

Based on current information from the Governor’s Office, the earliest Lee County could move to Phase 4 would be near the end of June.  This is not an automatic transition.  The transition is dependent on positive case & testing trends and hospital capacities in our designated region. 

Current Testing Criteria:

The following people can be tested with or without symptoms. 

• Work in health care facility
• Work in correctional facilities, such as jails or prisons
• Serve as first responders, such as paramedics, emergency medical technicians, law enforcement officers, or firefighters
• Support critical infrastructure , such as workers in grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, gas stations, public utilities, factories, childcare and sanitation 

Other individuals may be tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms (cough, shortness of breath and fever) OR

have a risk factor, such as contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19, a compromised immune system or a serious chronic medical condition

What to do if you think you have COVID-19: (UPDATED INFORMATION)

During the current Corona Virus outbreak, individuals with symptoms SHOULD NOT GO to health care facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and urgent care centers without CALLING FIRST.  Instead, they can seek care by using one of the following options:

• Use the “KSB Care Anywhere” virtual care app (https://ksbhospital.zipnosis.com/) for a free 5 question screening in order to help differentiate your symptoms between the virus and other seasonal maladies. While a credit card is required for a more involved assessment, no charges will be applied if a COVID-19 testing referral is made.
• KSB is offering a Coronavirus HOTLINE, by which symptoms can be evaluated against federal screening guidelines, and if appropriate, a referral is made to their Drive-Thru Screening site. The screening site is available ONLY through the hotline and between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm on weekdays by calling 815-285-7777.
• Residents with a Primary Care Practitioner can also CALL their office for advice. Again, CALL FIRST before going to the office 

Residents can go to the following websites for additional information:

Go to KSB, IDPH, or CDC websites.  Lee County Health Department provides regular updates on its Facebook page.

• https://www.ksbhospital.com/coronavirus-outbreak-covid-19/
• http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• For businesses: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html
• Facebook: Lee County IL Health Department

For general questions about COVID-19, call the IDPH hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or 211.