health and wellness reminders for flu season and covid

emailed to parents: october 26, 2020

Dear Park West family,

As we head into this unusual fall and flu season, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for being so conscientious about the health and well-being of your family as well as our Park West family by following the COVID guidelines and protocols at school. Since our time together in the classroom is limited, many of you are self-reporting and self-quarantining during times when we are not together. Due to that diligent effort, we are currently at a 0% positivity rate at school.

Many symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 are the same. Some symptoms are more likely to be seen in a COVID patient than flu. However, what is known is that COVID symptoms in children often present themselves as mild, cold-like symptoms.  

•      Fever or chills

•      Cough

•      Nasal congestion or runny nose

•      Sore throat

•      Shortness of breath

•      Difficulty breathing

•      Diarrhea

If your child, or anyone in your household, is experiencing any of these symptoms, please do not come to school. If your child does have a symptom, they can only return to school if the following Return to School criteria are met:

•   Medical provider determines that they likely do NOT have a COVID-19 infection and provides documentation for an alternate diagnosis if symptoms continue AND

•   It has been 24-hours with no fever (without fever-reducing medication) AND

•   Child’s symptoms have subsided OR

•   Documentation of a negative PCR test for COVID-19 AND

•   24-hours with no fever (without fever-reducing medication) AND

•   Child’s symptoms have subsided

 •   Without a COVID PCR test or clinical evaluation from a medical provider quarantine for at least 10 calendar days from the onset of symptoms AND

•   It has been 24 hours with no fever (without fever-reducing medication) AND

•   Child’s symptoms have subsided

As of October 20, 2020, the IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health) has changed the Return to School requirements to include a negative COVID-19 PCR test. Most testing facilities will offer a rapid and PCR test as part of the diagnosis. If either test comes back positive, you will have to quarantine for 10 days after the positive test. If the rapid test comes back negative, you will not be able to return to school until you received the negative confirmation from the PCR test. Please ensure that your diagnostic test includes a PCR test. A link to the IDPH Return to School decision tree is here.

If you do receive a COVID-19 test, please email the results to health@parkwestcoop.org. Knowing our positivity rate (both positive and negative) is crucial as we look to determine the next phase of school as the weather changes.

 If your child presents with any COVID-19 symptoms while at school, they will be sent home and will not be able to return unless the Return to School criteria are met. The above procedures and protocols are required by DCFS Licensing under the Restore Illinois program. 

Please note: If staff or students are diagnosed with an illness other than COVID-19, they should follow school policies regarding when they can safely return to school.

If you or your child need to take a COVID-19 test, the following locations are available:

Mobile testing sites:

Bennett Day - 955 W Grand Avenue - Chicago

Wednesdays -10:30AM-5:30PM while daily supplies last

Mccormick YMCA -1834 N. Lawndale - Chicago

9AM-5PM while daily supplies last

Locations:

Innovative Express Care Lincoln Park - 1111 W Diversey Pkwy - APPOINTMENT REQUIRED

Open 7 days a week- 8:00 am- 8:00 pm

Physicians Immediate Care Lincoln Park - 933 W Diversey - APPOINTMENT REQUIRED

8AM-8PM- Mon-Fri; 8AM-4PM Sat-Sun

Physicians Immediate Care Bucktown - 1702 N Milwaukee - APPOINTMENT REQUIRED

8AM-6PM Mon-Fri; 8AM-4PM Sat-Sun

Physicians Immediate Care Old Town - 121 W North Ave - APPOINTMENT REQUIRED

8AM-8PM Mon-Fri; 8AM-4PM Sat-Sun

We also encourage everyone to get a flu shot this year. Flu clinics around the city are open and many will vaccinate children ages 18 months+. Some locations with availability are:

Lakeview Pediatrics - 1333 W. Belmont Ave Suite 310 - call for appointment - 773-880-1738

Lurie pediatrics - Town and Country - 1460 N Halsted - call for appointment - 312-227-2800 

CVS Minute Clinic - (inside Target) - 1200 N Larrabee - appointments online

CVS Minute Clinic - (inside CVS Pharmacy) - 1165 N Clark - appointments online

CVS Minute Clinic - (inside Target) - 2656 N Elston Ave - appointments online

We are working with our health task force to determine the next phase of school and will have a decision and announcement this week. It is imperative that we stay as safe and healthy as possible as we determine options for our program as winter approaches. We thank you for your extraordinary effort in this regard.

Thank you

Rachel McNeil

Board President, Park West Co-Op

P.S. Please remember to email health@parkwestcoop.org with any and all questions regarding your or your child’s illness or when, where and how to get tested.