As news about the coronavirus becomes widespread, it can be easy to become lost in the sea of information which in turn may lead some to panic. In these times of crisis, Huntley Chief of Police, Robert Porter, ensures that Huntley is taking a “common sense but prepared approach,” in an effort to keep local residents informed and safe.
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, said in a press release on March 12, “Now is the time to implement aggressive strategies to limit introduction or spread of the virus in communities. This will mean small, and sometimes large sacrifices, but these strategies are vital for the health of our state and we ask for everyone’s help in protecting our most vulnerable populations.”
This message is strongly echoed within all areas of Huntley as Porter explains, “We’re taking all the leads from the CDC and are encouraging citizens to practice social distancing to minimize exposure. There’s been village wide cleanup efforts and all police officers have been issued protective gear. We’ve also canceled a lot of events and meetings that would have large gatherings of people.”
As measures are continually evolving to combat COVID-19, Porter assures that Huntley is prepared to take action if needed, “We’ve had a pandemic plan since 2009, and we’ve made revisions to it throughout the years,” he said. “We have been adjusting and trying to do anything we can do to help our residents. The police department has been in constant contact with the fire department and hospitals.”
McHenry County as a whole has had a similar approach in regards to combating coronavirus as it takes high priority in protecting the elderly and others with chronic health problems.
Dr. Laura Buthod, a Medical Advisor for the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH), suggested in a public statement that anyone in McHenry County experiencing cold symptoms should assume they have COVID-19.
“That means staying home and monitoring your symptoms. Stay away from other people. Get rest and stay hydrated. Wash your hands and clean all common surfaces often,” she said.
Buthod added that if symptoms worsen, then contacting a healthcare provider would be the next step in determining if testing for the virus is needed.
McHenry County Board Chair, Jack Franks also issued a public statement on the importance of the health of McHenry County residents, explaining that MCDH has prepared and planned to respond to COVID-19 cases.
“The county is supporting its residents and healthcare providers, but there are limits on available tests. We are following Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines to prioritize testing to those most vulnerable in our community,” Franks said. “We do not want to overwhelm our healthcare system by sending patients with mild symptoms to doctors’ offices and emergency departments.”
IDPH strongly urges those that fall into the category of the aging population or have a compromised immune system should take extra caution when attending gatherings of any size and to also avoid exposure to large groups of people whenever possible.
For general questions about COVID-19, residents can call the IDPH hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email them at dph.sick@illinois.gov.
