Message From Evanston Mayor: COVID-19 Timeline

Press release from the City of Evanston:

Greetings,

As we count down the days to the New Year, I would like to thank each of you for your extraordinary efforts and sacrifices during this unprecedented time in our history.

Years from now, when I look back on 2020, I’ll remember the heartbreak and hardships experienced by so many in our community, but I’ll also recall the strength, endurance, and love we showed one another. As the snowman on Evanston 4th grader Tate Dunn's holiday greeting card proudly displays on his sweater, 2020 showed that “We Are Evanstrong."

Although we’re not yet through this pandemic, and we must all continue to be vigilant about following public health guidance, we can move forward into 2021 optimistic that our community will overcome the challenges we face by working together.

Below, you’ll find a timeline detailing our communitywide response to the COVID-19 pandemic thus far. I hope that reading it will make you as proud as I am to be an Evanstonian.

Wishing you all a safe and healthy New Year.

Sincerely,

Stephen H. Hagerty
Mayor

p.s. Thank you to everyone who has given generously to our $2 Million in Two Months campaign, which supports residents most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We're now less than $200,000 away from meeting our goal. If you haven't donated yet, there's still time. Donate today.

A Whole Community Response

January

• January 21. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms first U.S. coronavirus case in the state of Washington.

February

• February. Evanston’s Health & Human Services (HHS) Department forms an internal response team as COVID-19 begins to spread around the world. The department begins monitoring the situation in coordination with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and CDC.
• February 28. Mayor sends first citywide COVID-19 communication.

March

• March 9. Governor Pritzker issues a statewide disaster proclamation.
• March 11. World Health Organization (WHO) declares COVID-19 a pandemic.
• March 12. State cancels gatherings of 1,000 people or more.
• March 13. President Trump declares COVID-19 a national emergency. All K-12 schools in Illinois are closed under state order. The City, ETHS, and District 65 announce the youth meals program to assist students in need during eLearning. Mayor Hagerty and HHS Director Ike Ogbo host the first of more than a dozen “Coronavirus Q&As” to answer residents’ questions and provide information.
• March 15. As the first two COVID-19 cases among Evanston residents are confirmed, the City’s HHS Department immediately begins contact tracing, an important public health process to prevent the spread of illness. Mayor Hagerty declares a local State of Emergency, and the City activates its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) – the first accredited EOC in the region to do so.
• March 17. The Mayor’s Coronavirus Task Force, which includes representatives of the education, government, business, faith, nonprofit, health, and senior communities, holds its first meeting. The City suspends non-safety-related parking enforcement and halts nonpayment penalties for water/sewer/sanitation bills, liquor and amusement taxes, and business registration fees.
• March 18. The City’s EOC team meets for the first time, operating out of NU Police headquarters as part of a joint partnership with Northwestern University. The City begins acquiring personal protective equipment (PPE) to distribute to first responders, essential workers and long-term care facilities. In collaboration with the state, the City's HHS Department makes the first of many visits to Evanston congregate living facilities to ensure implementation of infectious disease control and prevention measures. The Evanston Community Foundation launches its Evanston Community Rapid Response Fund.
• March 20. The City partners with the Evanston Community Foundation, Connections for the Homeless, YWCA Evanston/North Shore, Curt's Cafe, and Interfaith Action of Evanston to fund, staff and coordinate temporary shelter for homeless residents. More than 100 beds are secured at local hotels, and 15 portable toilets and handwashing stations are installed throughout Evanston. The City makes its first distribution of PPE to Evanston long-term care facilities. More than 37,000 PPE items are delivered to these facilities over the course of 2020.

• March 21. A statewide “Stay-at-Home” Order goes into effect. The Morton Civic Center and City facilities are closed.
• March 23. City moves its Emergency Operations Center to the new Robert Crown Community Center and Library. Evanston reports its first death related to COVID-19.
• March 27. $2 trillion federal CARES Act economic recovery package signed into law.
• March 30. City launches COVID-19 Response volunteer portal.

April

• April 10. The City partners with Northwestern University to launch an Emergency Food Pantry at James Park. The pantry is supported by donations from the community throughout the year.
• April 13. Evanston's HHS Department brings medical staff on board to provide guidance to long-term care and congregate living facilities.

• April 16. Illinois reports its 1,000th fatality due to COVID-19.
• April 20. Evanston’s HHS Department issues a face covering order requiring all persons working in or patronizing “essential businesses and operations” to wear cloth face coverings. Evanston's order is issued 11 days before a statewide face covering order is implemented.
• April 22. The City partners with Masks for Moms to provide face coverings to pregnant women and women in labor and delivery. More than 1,300 masks are collected.

May

• May 1. A modified statewide stay-at-home order goes into effect, allowing some non-essential retailers and facilities to reopen.
• May 2. Downtown Evanston Farmers’ Market opens with safety restrictions in place, becoming a model for farmers' markets in the region.
• May 5. Governor Pritzker announces “Restore Illinois” plan.

• May 6. Ten furlough days are implemented for non-union City employees and, later, AFSCME employees, to help close a projected $12 million 2020 revenue shortfall.

• May 7. The City, Evanston Community Foundation, Evanston Public Library and Evanston 311 launch the Evanston Care Network to better connect individuals seeking social service assistance and resources. The City rolls out the “reCOVERevanston” poster campaign to encourage everyone to wear face coverings when working in or patronizing essential businesses.
• May 20. Illinois surpasses 100,000 total COVID-19 cases.
• May 22. As metrics improve, the City begins to reopen some outdoor recreational facilities, including tennis courts and boating facilities, with health and safety guidelines in place.
• May 26. The Evanston City Council waives sidewalk café permit fees for 2020, and approves temporary outdoor seating permits.
• May 28. U.S. surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 deaths.
• May 29. Illinois and Evanston enter Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois Recovery Plan. Retail establishments, service counters and other businesses reopen with safety guidelines in place. Outdoor dining resumes.
• May 31. Thousands of Evanstonians participate in a socially distanced March for Black Lives following the murder of George Floyd.

June

• June 3 and 4. Evanston records zero new daily confirmed COVID-19 cases for the first time since March. The Evanston Community Rapid Response Fund surpasses $2.5 million in donations.
• June 16. City launches needs assessment surveys to guide community recovery efforts.
• June 22. AMITA Health and the City partner to host Evanston’s first COVID-19 community testing event at James Park.
• June 26. Evanston and Illinois enter Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Recovery Plan. Indoor dining and additional businesses reopen.

July

• July 1. Evanston beaches open for swimming with capacity limits and safety restrictions in place. Playgrounds and basketball courts reopen. Infection rates remain low throughout the summer.
• July 4. Evanston 4th of July Association hosts its first virtual Independence Day celebration in the organization’s 99-year history.
• July 6. Evanston summer camps open with capacity limits and safety restrictions.
• July 7. City kicks off outdoor, socially distanced Starlight Concert and Movie series.
• July 20. AMITA Health St. Francis Hospital and the City partner to offer a second COVID-19 testing event at ETHS.

• July 27. City Council approves allocation of $50,000 to support the Entrepreneurship Emergency Assistance Program.

August

• August 4. A temporary building permit desk and Collector’s Office service counter open at the Robert Crown Community Center and Library.
• August 18. City announces $4+ million in grants secured to support its COVID-19 response.
• August 24. Evanston Parks & Recreation offers Fall Camp programs.

September

• September 1. City launches COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Program.
• September 3. Evanston reaches 1,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
• September 8-10. City partners with IDPH to host COVID-19 mobile testing site at ETHS.
• September 12. Third- and fourth-year Northwestern students begin phased return to campus. NU and City work together to implement health, safety and testing procedures.
• September 14. Seven new case investigators join the City’s Health and Human Services Department to support contact tracing efforts.
• September 17. City partners with Walgreens to host the first flu vaccination event at James Park, vaccinating 400 residents.

October

• October 1. Evanston Health and Human Services Department begins weekly meetings to plan for vaccine distribution.
• October 3. City holds ribbon cutting for the new Robert Crown Community Center and Library.
• October 10. Fall Starlight Movies in the Park series kicks off with “Ghost Busters” at Larimer Park.

• October 16. Evanston’s seven-day moving average of confirmed daily cases rises above 10 for the first time since late May as residents spend more time indoors.
• October 19 - November 2. Early voting takes place at the Morton Civic Center with safety measures in place.
• October 24. Northwestern Football hosts Maryland for its first home football game in 2020. Attendance is restricted to players’ family members only.

• October 26-27. City partners with IDPH to host a COVID-19 testing site at ETHS.
• October 28. Resurgence Mitigation measures implemented in suburban Cook County as cases rise. Indoor dining is prohibited.
• October 29. Ford Motor Company donates 82,000 surgical masks to the City.
• October 31. Evanston celebrates Halloween with socially distanced trick-or-treat.

November

• November 1. Mayor Hagerty partners with the Evanston Community Foundation to encourage residents to join effort to raise $2 million in two months for those most impacted by COVID-19.
• November 9. Evanston City Council approves Community Member Relief Fund to assist undocumented residents impacted by COVID-19. Pfizer and BioNTech announce vaccine candidate.
• November 12. As infections rise, the City urges residents to limit gatherings and celebrate Thanksgiving at home.
• November 13. City issues Stay-at-Home Advisory in alignment with Cook County and the State of Illinois. Evanston’s seven-day average of weekly cases per 100,000 residents and positivity rate remain significantly below Chicago, Skokie, Cook County and Illinois.
• November 16. City implements parking changes to encourage residents to support local businesses during the holiday season.
• November 19. Evanston reaches 2,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
• November 20. Tier 3 mitigation measures implemented statewide, restricting capacity in retail establishments and other businesses, and limiting social gatherings to household members only.

• November 23. Despite difficult economic circumstances, the Evanston City Council approves a balanced 2021 Budget.

• November 29. More than 180 Evanston residents receive flu vaccinations as part of the City’s vaccination event with BlueCross BlueShield and Jewel-Osco.

December

• December 11. FDA issues emergency authorization for the first COVID-19 vaccine.
• December 17. The City's HHS Department coordinates with AMITA Health St. Francis Hospital and NorthShore University HealthSystem to distribute the first vaccines to Evanston healthcare workers. The Evanston Community Foundation reports more than $1.8 million raised towards its $2 million goal.

This press release was produced by the City of Evanston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.