Until a COVID-19 vaccine or preventive treatment is available, management of the COVID-19 pandemic will rely on a tried and true public health measure called contact tracing to keep you, your family, and your community safe.  This method has been employed successfully for decades by the Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, such as vaccine preventable diseases, Ebola, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted infections. Contact tracing for COVID-19 is a bit different because it needs to be executed on a significantly larger scale, adapting to unique challenges of the virus, including its spread by people without symptoms.

How can I protect myself, my crew, friends, and family from COVID-19?

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before to eating, during breaks, after using the restroom, and when you return home from work. Wash hands throughout the day when convenient.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue or use the inside of your elbow.  Wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Use a cloth face covering at work and in public when social distancing of 6 feet or more cannot be maintained. When at home, use a mask if you share housing and cannot maintain 6 feet  distance from others. Do not touch the front of the mask. Wash the cloth mask each day after using it.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Maintain social distance (6 feet). Avoid close contact with people at work, in public, and at home if you live in shared housing.

Restore Illinois – Phase 4

This document is intended to provide guidance to businesses operating swimming facilities licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) during Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan. This includes swimming pools, water parks, splashpads,  and beaches.

During Phase 4, swimming facilities licensed by IDPH can open to a maximum 50 percent capacity.  Wave pools may open, but without the use of wave generation equipment. Operators, employees, and customers should wear face coverings when not engaged in swimming activities. Exceptions can be made for children younger than 2 years of age or people with medical conditions or disabilities that prevent them from safely wearing a face covering. Operators, employees, and customers should frequently wash their hands or use hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol. Operators, employees, and customers should adhere to social distancing where applicable.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recommends that agricultural employers and migrant labor camp operators implement the following guidance to reduce exposure to and the spread of COVID-19 among migrant and seasonal farmworkers. To reduce the impact of COVID-19 outbreak conditions on these essential workers, their employers, and the public, agricultural employers and migrant labor camp operators should immediately implement preventative measures and create a COVID-19 response plan.

This guidance and the accompanying checklist provide recommendations on how to implement the following measures and prevent the spread of COVID-19 at agricultural housing, transportation, and worksites:

Part of Phase III of Restore Illinois Plan Effective as of May 29, 2020
Last updated on May 27, 2020

This document is applicable to businesses that meet the following criteria:

The IDPH Plumbing and Water Quality Program is issuing this memorandum to building owners and operators, and public water supply operators to provide guidance for maintaining water quality and safety in building water systems and in potable water distribution systems during periods of reduced use and considerations for returning building water systems to regular use.

What to do if you have confirmed or possible coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or develop symptoms of COVID-19 after you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, follow the steps below to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community.

What to do if you have symptoms of COVID-19 and have not been around anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19

If you have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath but have not been around anyone with diagnosed COVID-19, follow the steps below to help prevent your infection from spreading to people in your home and community.

Could I have COVID-19?

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms may include chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell. If you have these symptoms, even if you have not been around anyone with COVID-19, you may have COVID-19 or another respiratory virus. COVID-19 is circulating throughout Illinois, but other respiratory viruses may be circulating in your community as well.

Should I get tested for COVID-19?

Currently, anyone with symptoms of COVD-19 is encouraged to be tested.

What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

If you think you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, follow the steps below to monitor your health and to avoid spreading the disease to others.

How do I know if I was exposed?

You generally need to be in close contact with a person with COVID-19 to get infected. Close contact includes:

These frequently asked questions are to provide guidance regarding the application of the face covering requirement in Executive Order 2020-32 for businesses and other places of public accommodation subject to Article 5 of the Illinois Human Rights Act, 775 ILCS 5/.

When Face Coverings are Required

What does it mean to wear a face covering?

A face covering is a mask or cloth face covering that covers your nose and mouth. The face covering should allow for breathing without restriction. There is no requirement to wear a hospital grade mask or other specific type or brand of face covering. You may wear a homemade face covering, if it fits closely and covers your nose and mouth. For more specific information on how to make or care for your face covering, visit the Illinois Department of Public Health website at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/mask-use.