COVID-19 Coronavirus

September 26 - Understanding Exposure Risks
Know your exposure risk if you were around a person with COVID-19. 

Consider these factors to help determine the likelihood that you were infected. 

Risk of transmission is increased when: 
•    Exposure time is longer. Contact longer than 15 minutes is more likely to result in transmission than two minutes of contact. 
•    A person is coughing, singing, shouting, or breathing heavily due to exertion. 
•    You are around people who are symptomatic. 
•    You are close to someone who is infected with COVID-19. Crowded settings can increase your chances of being close to someone with COVID-19. 

Risk of transmission is decreased when:
•    One person is wearing a mask. If both people are wearing masks, the risk is substantially decreased.
•    Activities are outdoors.

March 22nd - Recommendations for People with COVID-19 and COVID-19 Close Contacts

Have you tested positive for COVID-19 or have mild symptoms and are waiting for test results?

  • Isolate. Stay at home for at least 5 days.
  • Wear a mask, stay in a separate room from other people, and use a separate bathroom if you can.
  • Do not travel for 10 days.
  • If you can’t wear a mask, stay home and away from other people for 10 days.

Contact your healthcare provider to discuss your test results and available treatment options.

At day 6 if symptoms are improving and you have no fever without fever-reducing medication for 24 hours:

  • You can leave isolation. 
  • Keep wearing a mask around other people for 5 more days. 

If your symptoms are not improving and/or you still have a fever:

  • Continue to stay home until 24 hours after your fever stops without using fever-reducing medication and your symptoms have improved. 

After you feel completely better, keep wearing a mask around other people at home and in public through day 10.

Have you been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19?

  • Quarantine: If you are not up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines or haven’t had COVID-19 in the past 90 days, stay home and away from other people for at least 5 days. Avoid travel through day 10. If you are up to date or had COVID-19 in the past 90 days you do not have to quarantine. 
  • Wear a mask around other people for 10 days. 
  • Watch for symptoms of COVID-19 for 10 days. 

Get tested on or after day 5 or if you have symptoms. People who had COVID-19 in the past 90 days should only get tested if they develop symptoms.

March 22nd - What is a COVID-19 Community Level?

COVID-19 Community Levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data.

Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at: 

  • hospital beds being used
  • hospital admissions
  • total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area

Take precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 based on the COVID-19 Community Level in your area. Check your COVID-19 Community Level here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html

March 8th - Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests 

Self-tests can be ordered online for free at COVIDtests.gov. Placing an order only requires your name and residential address. You may also share your email address to get updates on your order. No ID, credit card, or health insurance information is required. If you need help placing an order for your at-home tests, call 1-800-232-0233.

Self-tests for COVID-19 give rapid results and can be taken anywhere, regardless of whether or not you have symptoms. Learn more about Self-Testing at home and visit the FDA’s website for a complete list of authorized tests.

February 25th COVID-19 Update and Masking

Based on Governor Pritzker’s announcement to end the State mask mandate, effective February 28, 2022, the Village of Riverside will transition to masks being optional but recommended for visitors at Village facilities and meetings.

It is important to note that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) encourage masking and social distancing for all persons regardless of vaccination status in areas where transmission is at high or substantial levels. The current CDC guidelines for quarantine and isolation recommend masking for 10 days after close contact. To find more information regarding the CDC, please refer to the link below: 

COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation | CDC

February 1st Updates from the CDC

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Illinois Enhances Vaccination and Testing Capacity

CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker has directed the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) to enhance its partnerships with local health department mass vaccination operations throughout the state to help meet the growing demand for the COVID-19 vaccine booster. The State of Illinois is more than doubling personnel and adding at least 100 people to regional sites – administering vaccinations, preparing vaccine doses for clinic personnel, and doing data entry.  

Additionally, starting the week of January 3, the state’s free Community Based Testing Sites will begin operating six days a week to increase COVID-19 testing availability across the state.  

In recent weeks, the State of Illinois partnered with Cook County Health to offer two (2) one day booster clinics, resulting in about 7,000 shots administered.  

Appointments can be made at the link below. Many locations will also accept walk ups.

Cook County Vaccination Appointments