Novel Coronavirus Information for Champaign-Urbana, Champaign County, and the East Central Illinois Region
The first case of the coronavirus in Champaign County was announced on Sunday, March 15. We have complete coverage of the announcement over HERE.
We’ve collected local Champaign-Urbana resources here in one place, along with information from the CDC so you can stay informed. In the event of closings and cancellations we’ll be here ready to collect and share that local information.
A reminder: it’s OK to be sad. This is a huge moment in time.
Champaign-Urbana Grocery Store Updates | Champaign-Urbana Area Library Resources | Champaign, Urbana Area School Districts Food Distribution Plans | Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurants Offer Free Food for Kids| 300 resources for learning and entertainment | Find local info about social distancing with kids | Daily Digests of Champaign-Urbana updates | How to Help: Give Blood | Senior Living Facilities Seek Cards, Letters for Residents
Regional Information about the Coronavirus: University of Illinois, Cities, Champaign-Urbana Public Health, Schools and More
Find information regarding food distribution from Champaign Unit 4 Schools, Urbana 116 Schools and Mahomet-Seymour schools here.
Grocery Stores add Senior Shopping Hours, and Where to Shop Local
We put together this resource of updated times for area grocery stores, including a list of local speciality and ethnic grocery stores across Champaign and Urbana. Plus, where to buy direct from farmers.
Governor Offers Bars, Restaurants Closed to Dine-In
UPDATE, March 15: Governor Orders Bars and Restaurants to close to dine-in customers, although drive-thru and curbside service may continue. (This is a developing story we are monitoring.)
Schools Closed Statewide
Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurants Offering Free Food for Kids: We are awaiting guidance on this in light of the new announcement closing bars and restaurants, but allowing drive-thru and curbside service.
Champaign-Urbana Area School Districts
UPDATE: As of Friday March 20, at 3:30 pm, the state has mandated ALL public and private schools closed, from Tuesday, March 17 through April 7, due to the Covid-19 public health crisis. More HERE. This does NOT apply to daycare centers.
Champaign Unit 4 Schools will post updates and info on its Coronavirus resource website here. This includes updates on providing food to students. An announcement from March 19: school work cannot be mandated and graded under this period. The district will offer academic resources but they will not be counted for grades. The District has created a shared set of preK-12 resources.
Urbana Schools 116
Urbana Schools 116 has put together Covid-13 multiple resources in a central location online. Parent-teacher conferences for March 12-13 will be held as scheduled but only through phone calls, emails or other electronic communication.
The district also outlined ways in which it can provide learning opportunities should schools be forced to close after spring break. As is the case with Unit 4, District 116 is not an approved e-learning district.
Mahomet-Seymour Schools
Parents and staff are advised to check their email for updates.
As part of the University of Illinois, Uni High will suspend in-person classes and hold class remotely / online starting on March 23, for a limited time.
Resources for Talking to Your Children About COVID-19.
Social Distancing: where and how in Champaign-Urbana
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Coronavirus Information
One of the more detailed and thorough local responses to the novel coronavirus pandemic has come from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The university has cancelled all events for the rest of the semester, including commencement.
Late on March 16, the University of Illinois announced it was asking all students who could safely move home to do so, and will be moving students out of university housing.
As of March 13, State Farm Center and Krannert Center for the Performing Arts announced the cancellation and/or postponement of performances through the end of April. MORE HERE.
Also as of March 12, the Big Ten Conference has cancelled all winter and spring season athletic events, across all sports, for the remainder of the school year.
As of March 11, the University of Illinois System announced that it was moving all instruction online, and events of more than 50 people would be cancelled until further notice. MORE HERE.
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Coronavirus Updates
The first case of the coronavirus in Champaign County was announced on Sunday, March 15. We have complete coverage of the announcement over HERE.
Want to know the latest about the state of the virus in Champaign-Urbana? Be sure to follow the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District on Facebook. That is where CUPHD puts out the most current info about public health issues, and Covid-19 is no exception. “To prepare for the possibility of local spread of COVID-19, we need everyone with the ability to prepare to do so. Our overriding goal in our community will be to keep the healthcare system, and especially the hospitals, from becoming overwhelmed during local spread.” The CUPHD website has been hacked and is down. Again, be sure to follow the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District on Facebook.
Here are ways to reach CUPHD: coronavirus@c-uphd.org or 217-352-7961
City of Champaign: Emergency Declaration
On March 12, Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen issued an Executive Order declaring the existence of a local emergency in the City of Champaign related to the COVID-19 virus, which is causing or is anticipated to cause widespread impacts on the health of members of the community. Provisions in Chapter 12 of the Champaign Municipal Code provide the Mayor authorization to declare an emergency for a limited period of time. This allows the Mayor to exercise significant emergency powers at the inception of the emergency, and then to provide an opportunity for the City Council, as a whole, to deal with an emergency. The Ordinance would provide the City increased flexibility in many different areas to allow the City to continue to function effectively during emergency operations.
Champaign Public Library
As of March 24: The library will be closed until further notice. “If you have items checked out from our library, the due dates will be extended. Please keep items at home—the outside book returns will also be closed. Any items on hold will be available for you when we open our doors again.”
Information from March 14 indicated that, “In the interest of public health, we are cancelling all library programs and meeting room bookings through April 12. If your community group has booked a room between March 13 and April 12, we will be in touch to arrange a rescheduling or cancellation. At this time, the main library and the Douglass Branch continue to operate with standard hours. If you have items checked out from our library, the due dates will be extended until the first week in May.”
Urbana Free Library
- Due dates for all materials in the collection are extended to different dates in early May. Drop boxes for materials are closed, so please don’t return anything – just stay home and enjoy your materials longer!
- Your holds will be waiting for you on the hold shelves when we reopen. You are still able to place requests, and we will begin filling them when we reopen.
Cancellations and Closures
Allerton Park access to South trails only (no facilities available)
Illinois Marathon has been postponed
Engineering Open House has been cancelled
Urbana Park District cancels programs, events and rentals and closes buildings through April 12
Virginia Theatre Suspends Public Events
Stephens Family YMCA Closed as of March 16
Museum of the Grand Prairie Closed Through April 12, events cancelled
Boneyard Arts Festival Postponed Until Later (Unknown) Date
Savoy Recreation Center Closed Until Further Notice
Krannert Art Museum Closed Until March 30
University of Illinois COVID-19 moves to online classes and cancellations – more to come.
Parkland College moves to online classes as of March 23
Unit 4 Cancels Edison Middle School Band Trip
Lowe’s Cancels Workshops Including Kids Workshops
Check out our calendar for more info on cancellations – and what is still happening.
We’ll update with cancellations as soon as we know about them. Have a tip? Send it to editor@chambanamoms.com.
Champaign-Urbana Healthcare Organization Responses
Carle Foundation Hospital
Carle has posted multiple articles to its newsroom about its response. “Carle continues to educate all staff and providers on rapidly changing guidance and implementing a range of conservation strategies to keep patients, staff and the community safe. Additionally, providers are leveraging existing telehealth tools to address patient’s healthcare needs and are reviewing the organization’s pandemic plans.”
OSF HealthCare Response for Novel Coronavirus
Clare, the virtual assistant chatbot on the home page of OSF HealthCare, is now equipped to screen for and educate the public about COVID-19.
“If you suspect you have novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and it is not an emergency, DO NOT go to a hospital or doctor’s office. Please use our chatbot, Clare. She will check your symptoms and advise you on what to do next.”
The chatbot will listen for symptoms of COVID-19 and ask relevant follow-up questions, such as travel history, and whether a person is aware if they’ve been exposed to others with the illness.If necessary, Clare will direct patients to a newly established triage line. Staffed 24/7, community members who are symptomatic or considered at-risk will be able to access trained medical professionals at no cost for advice on testing and care.
State of Illinois and CDC Coronavirus Prevention Information
State of Illinois Department of Public Health Coronavirus Information
The State of Illinois Department of Public Health has put together a robust resource that includes guidance for schools, businesses and community organizations regarding preparation and preparedness. Here you’ll find current, reliable information on the number of cases in the state of Illinois (even how many people have been tested). It also has an FAQ in both English and Spanish, as well as some resources in Chinese. (Quiere informacion del nuevo coronovirus in Espanol? Esta aqui.)
Centers for Disease Control: Preventing COVID-19 Spread
The CDC website is perhaps the best source of reliable COVID-19 information in the United States. Find recommendations on cleaning and disinfecting to prevent the spread of coronavirus, as well guidance for getting your household ready for coronavirus. Don’t rely on social media to answer questions; this site has all the information without the drama. Federal and local officials are repeatedly recommending this CDC website for accurate information.
World Health Organization Coronavirus Myth Busters
Will garlic help prevent you getting the coronavirus? Does ultraviolet light kill the coronavirus? Can you open a letter from China? Find the answer to all these questions and more at this World Health Organization site.
