Community Health - Recreation & Parks Department
Margaret Lewis, Community Health Coordinator
350 Victory Dr., Park Forest, IL 60466
Office: 708-283-5663 / Cell Phone: 708-825-5205
Email: mlewis@vopf.com
Website: www.villageofparkforest.com

Farmer’s Market website http://www.villageofparkforest.com/98/Farmers-Market 

Community Health Services
•Wellbeing checks on residents
•Medical equipment loan closet
•Annual farmers market management
•Food service health inspections (retail food, daycare, and restaurants)
•Health monitoring of senior building residents
•Health services referrals (i.e. homemaker, primary care, immunizations, home health)
•Health information resource (diabetes, heart disease, cancer)

Be safe, stay healthy. Wear your masks to the market this season. Hand sanitizer stations will be available to keep your hands clean. Social distancing will be enforced please comply when asked. 

Call the Department of Recreation, Parks & Community Health at 708-748-2005 or email mlewis@vopf.com with any questions, concerns or comments.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS INFORMATION

About COVID-19

The Illinois Department of Public Health, local health departments, and public health partners throughout Illinois, and federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are responding to an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus called COVID-19 that was first identified in December 2019 during an outbreak in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 has spread throughout the world, including the United States, since it was detected and was declared a public health emergency for the U.S. on January 31, 2020 to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to the threat.  The World Health Organization announced March 11, 2020 that the spread of coronavirus qualifies as a global pandemic.

In addition, Gov. JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation March 9, 2020 regarding COVID-19 that gives the state access to federal and state resources to combat the spread of this newly emerged virus.

The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported January 21, 2020 and the first confirmed case in Illinois was announced January 24, 2020 (a Chicago resident). The first cases outside Chicago and Cook County were reported March 11, 2020 in Kane and McHenry counties. The current count of cases of COVID-19 in the United States is available on the CDC webpage at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html. Illinois case totals and test results are listed here.

Person-to-person spread of COVID-19 appears to be mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.  It also may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.  Preliminary data suggest older adults and people with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems seems to be at greater risk of developing serious illness from the virus.

If you are sick and have respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, stay home and call your medical provider.  Keep in mind there is no treatment for COVID-19 and people who are mildly ill can isolate at home. While at home, as much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people. Those who need medical attention should contact their health care provider who will evaluate whether they can be cared for at home or need to be hospitalized.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people, and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats, and bats.  Rarely animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people.

Human coronaviruses are common throughout the world and commonly cause mild to moderate illness in people worldwide.  However, the emergence of novel (new) coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS, have been associated with more severe respiratory illness.

Symptoms

Common human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. These illnesses usually only last for a short amount of time. Symptoms may include

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell 

Human coronaviruses can sometimes cause lower-respiratory tract illnesses, such as pneumonia or bronchitis.

Transmission

Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through

• the air by coughing and sneezing
• close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands
• rarely, fecal contamination

Prevention

The following can help prevent the spread of coronaviruses and protect yourself from becoming infected.

• wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• avoid close contact with people who are sick

There are currently no vaccines to protect against human coronavirus infection

Treatment

There are no specific treatments. To help relieve symptoms

• take pain and fever medications
• drink plenty of liquids
• stay home and rest

2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019 nCoV): Frequently Asked Questions

Hand washing tips: How to clean your hands to protect against coronavirus.
The best line of defense against getting the flu, a cold or coronavirus is to wash your dang hands. Click on the link below. 

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-wash-your-hands-to-protect-yourself-from-coronavirus/ 

Health & Wellness Links