Logan County Department of Public Health postpones walk in services
WIC will be via curb-side service

[April 13, 2020]  With the rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), social distancing is a critical practice that is essential to help prevent the virus from spreading. In an effort to protect the public and staff at this time, the Logan County Department of Public Health (LCDPH) is ceasing operations of their walk-in services including immunizations indefinitely to reduce the number of people entering the department.

Other services that will be postponed are the WIC walk-in clinic, TB testing, lead tests, drug screens, blood pressure and STD checks.

WIC will provide “curbside” services. To receive this service, please call 217-735-2317 (ext. 282) upon arrival at LCDPH.

These closures will go into effect on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 7:30am. To safeguard the public, you are urged to avoid coming to the health department. Other health department services will continue to be provided, but visitors are encouraged to first call their LCDPH meeting contact employee to make arrangements. Someone will be available at LCDPH to answer your calls from 7:30am until 4:30pm. For Southern Illinois University Center for Family
Medicine inquiries, you can contact the main health department number at 217-735-2317.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) or through droplets expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can also be picked up by touching surfaces and then transmitted to the mouth, nose and eyes. Personal contact, such as a handshake with an infected person, can also be a mechanism for transmission and you can potentially be exposed to the virus from someone who does not appear to be ill.

If infected, the symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. These symptoms may include fever, cough or shortness of breath. If you feel you may have been exposed and develop these symptoms, call your medical provider immediately. If it is not a medical emergency, please do not call 911.

To protect others from potential exposure, it is important you that you do not stop in at your doctor or healthcare facility without first calling. In addition, avoid stopping in public places if you feel ill or may have been exposed.

The CDC recommends you take the following steps to protect yourself:

• Wash your hands often with ample soap and water for at least 20 seconds and use hand sanitizer if soap is not readily available.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Practice social distancing by avoiding close contact with all people – especially those who may appear to be sick.

• Stay at home if you are sick.

• Cover coughs and sneezes and throw away used tissues.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.

The websites for CDC ( WWW. CDC.GOV  ) and Illinois Department of Public Health ( WWW.DPH.ILLINOIS. GOV ) provide great resources for the public to learn more about COVID-19 and how to prevent the spread by protecting you and the community. In addition, the Illinois Novel Coronavirus Hotline through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in conjunction with the Illinois Poison Control Center is a 24 hour/7 day per week resource to provide up-to-date information, facts and answers to your questions. In Illinois, you can dial 1-800-889-3931 or e-mail questions to IDPH at [e-mail]. 

[Don Cavi, MS, LEHP
Public Health Administrator
Logan County Department of Public Health]