Chicago Department of Public Health >> COVID-19 Coronavirus Resources and statistics

Dear Chicago Residents and Partners, On Monday, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) released new demographic data showing the impact of COVID-19 in Chicago by race and ethnicity, age, gender and zip code. The figures reveal great inequities in sickness and death by race and ethnicity, and in response the City pledged to take immediate steps to minimize gaps in healthcare systems; create more equity in service delivery; provide information and resources; and enhance rapid response programs to support the most impacted individuals and communities. Through Sunday, April 5, 1,824 black Chicagoans, 847 white Chicagoans, 478 Hispanic/Latinx Chicagoans, and 126 Asian Chicagoans had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Disparities in deaths are even greater: among those for whom race-ethnicity is known, 72% of the city’s deaths have been among black Chicagoans, though black Chicagoans make up just 30% of the city’s population. COVID-19 worldwide has had a greater impact on those with underlying health conditions, and the data thus far shows that 97% of Chicago residents who have died had such health challenges. African Americans have historically higher rates of chronic disease (including heart disease, lung disease, diabetes and smoking-related illness), and higher rates of death related to these chronic diseases in Chicago. Guided by this data, the City, in partnership with West Side United, is immediately working to implement a robust, multi-faceted community engagement strategy that will provide residents in impacted communities with health guidance for multi-generational families, isolation within the home, faith communities, and what to do when returning home from essential work or other activity. In addition, the City will launch a community awareness campaign, accelerate its work to leverage existing healthcare networks and develop new channels of communication to reach Chicago’s most vulnerable populations, identify and address barriers to protecting against COVID-19. To prevent congregate settings and to promote social distancing where it is more challenging to comply with the statewide Stay at Home order, the City will: Closely monitor CTA bus ridership along all routes and deploy large buses or extra buses to allow for social distancing during transit; Improve coordination and socialization of health guidance for essential businesses, such as grocery stores and corner stores, to promote social distancing and discourage congregating; and Prioritize Business Affairs and Consumer Protection investigation and response of non-essential businesses operating in communities with high transmission rates. While Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and CDPH remain committed to taking a transparent, data driven approach to responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, we all have a role to play in addressing health inequities and helping those most vulnerable during this unprecedented public health challenge. Stay home. Save lives. What's New New Health Order - CDPH Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady signed a public health order enhancing medical data-sharing requirements for all acute care and long-term hospitals, in order to better support the City’s ability to track COVID-19 and support the most impacted individuals and communities. Resources in Other Languages - Residents can now find more information about stopping the spread of COVID-19 and protecting themselves and their families in multiple languages: What to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms (English, Spanish, Polish)  What to do if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 (English, Spanish, Polish, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Arabic) What to do if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (English, Spanish, Polish, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Arabic) What to do if you don't have health insurance (English, Spanish, Polish, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Arabic) We Are Not Playing - The City launched a new campaign, “We Are Not Playing,” in partnership with Chicago’s professional sports teams to combat the spread of COVID-19. Each of Chicago’s hometown professional sports teams has signed on to the initiative, which leverages the influence of sports teams and their players to encourage residents to keep themselves and their neighbors safe from the spread of COVID-19 by staying home. We Are Not Playing is an integrated initiative that will kick-off with digital and out-of-home billboards around Chicago, before moving online and onto social media. The initiative builds on the recently launched “Stay Home. Save Lives” movement created by Mayor Lightfoot. Resources Finding Care When Uninsured - If you do not have a medical provider, are uninsured, or have limited or no income and believe you need non-emergency medical services, you can contact your nearest community health center (CHC) by phone and inform them of your need. They will work with you to coordinate appropriate care. CHCs receive funding from the federal government that allows them to charge each patient on a sliding scale fee based on the patient’s income and ability to pay. No patient will be turned away because of inability to pay. There are approximately 165 CHCs throughout the city of Chicago. You can find your nearest CHC at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov. Mental Health - Emotional reactions to this emerging health crisis are expected. Remind yourself, your family and your friends that feeling sad, anxious, overwhelmed or having other symptoms of distress such as trouble sleeping is normal. If symptoms become worse, encourage them, and yourself, to reach out for support and help. The following are free mental health resources available to all Chicago residents: Connect to a NAMI Chicago Helpline mental health counselor by calling 311 or directly at 833-626-4244 Connect to Bright Star Community Outreach's trauma counseling helpline at 833-TURN-123 Connect to free teletherapy services at Chicago Department of Public Health Mental Health Centers by calling 312-747-1020 For after hours support, contact Crisis Text Line which serves anyone, in any type of crisis, 24-hours a day. Instructions: Text HELLO to: 741741 to access a trained crisis counselor. Smart 911 - Residents are encouraged to sign up for Smart 911 and provide critical medical information to 9-1-1 so they can help faster in an emergency. Residents can create a safety profile for themselves and family members with information on their current health conditions as well as information if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or are under quarantine, and it will automatically be provided to first responders when calling 9-1-1. To learn more, check out this video: Latest Public Health Guidance Individuals Face Coverings - NEW! Businesses and Employers Multifamily Residential Buildings Congregate Settings Older Adults and Other People at Higher Risk Homeless Shelters Construction Workers Grocery Stores Animals Pregnant Women and Children Childcare Programs Healthcare Professionals First Responders Funeral Homes Oral Health Community and Dental Practices More guidance documents and supporting materials are available at www.chicago.gov/coronavirus. Join the Fight against COVID-19 Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. have issued a call for assistance from the medical community and are seeking to hire healthcare workers immediately to help the City of Chicago in its COVID-19 response efforts. Medical Assistants and Nurses are encouraged to apply for temporary positions. If you have any questions about the positions or the application process, you may email shelly.johnson@sunbeltstaffing.com or call 813-261-2706. Chicago Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a network of both medical and non-medical professionals who volunteer their time to assist during public health emergencies such as the current COVID-19 outbreak. Many MRC volunteers are just like you - nurses, doctors, pharmacists, therapists, public health professionals, and other community members who believe in keeping Chicago safe. Register at illinoishelps.net and be there when Chicago needs you most. CDPH is coordinating multiple opportunities for individuals, organizations and businesses to donate medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) and join the fight against the COVID-19. Go to the links below to: Donate medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) Donate other products or professional services Sell medical supplies and PPE For more information, visit chicago.gov/coronavirus.

Chicago Department of Public Health | 333 South State Street, Chicago, IL 60604