The DuPage County Health Department has a “Business Response Team” Ready to Help Local Shops

The latest COVID mitigation announcement is certainly a blow to many local businesses, especially restaurants, bars and breweries. While there are a handful of avenues for aid, sometimes you just need questions answered or to be pointed in the right direction.

That’s where the DuPage County Health Department’s Business Response Team comes in.

The BRT offers businesses support and guidance to assist in keeping their businesses open safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. This team is available to answer questions and direct businesses to the appropriate resources. For assistance, please contact [email protected].

Businesses across DuPage County can find resources to support their work at the Choose DuPage website. Information on the DuPage County Small Business Relief Grant Program, as well as the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Business Interruption Grants (BIG) are linked at that site.

To support our County and the Region in slowing the spread of this virus, DCHD urges residents to follow the effective public health tools available:

· Wear a mask whenever outside your home or around people not from your household;

· Watch your distance, staying at least 6 feet from people outside of your immediate household;

· Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer often;

· Avoid large gatherings, especially indoors;

· Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have been in close contact with a person infected with COVID-19; consult with your healthcare provider for medical evaluation and testing, as needed; and

· Get your flu shot, to prevent illness from influenza and to prevent possible co-infection from influenza and COVID-19.

As additional early voting locations have opened this week, The DCHD also remind residents to head to the polls with safety in mind. People can vote safely by practicing the three Ws through wearing their masks, watching their distance, and washing their hands or using hand sanitizer,” said Ayala. Voters can also avoid crowds through these three actions.

· Use early voting, if available in your jurisdiction.

· Vote at off-peak times, such as mid-morning.

· If driving to the polls and your schedule allows, monitor the voter line from your car and join it when it is shorter.

Additional information on how to prepare and stay safe on Election Day is available here.