1 • Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020 - MCN/Rock Valley Publishing
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VOL. 10 • NO. 34
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Since Three Oaks has opened, visitors have enjoyed a unique recreation area through boating, hiking, fishing, swimming and picnicking. However, during the last two years, the culmination of record rainfall events have limited access to some of the park’s amenities. During the past 10 years, water levels have varied at the Three Oaks Recreation Area similar to other natural bodies of water in the area. In fact, May 2020 was the wettest May on record, and 2019 was the 3rd wettest year on record. The park was originally designed to handle historical high water levels, but frequent consistent
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record rainfall events have challenged the original design. In spite of this, all amenities are still available, but access to certain trails and shoreline areas, the south lake marina and beach sand has been limited. As many guests know, the lake was a previous quarry so there is no natural outlet to drain these record rainfall amounts. In order to address high water levels, the city is conducting an engineering analysis to identify long-term solutions. Visit the Three Oaks Recreation Area website at www.crystallake. org/three-oaks-recreation or follow us on Facebook for up-to-date park information.
COVID-19 cases rising in Lake, McHenry counties among teens and young adults in recent weeks. The 20-29 age group now has the highest case count in both counties. “Young people are not immune to COVID-19, and local outbreaks show how easily this virus can spread in social settings,” said Melissa Adamson, Public Health Administrator at the McHenry County Department
Outpatient oncology care now at Huntley hospital Northwestern Medicine adds services in response to patient demands
Patients began receiving chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital July 27 when new outpatient oncology services opened to the community. Patient care will now be provided by four experienced physicians who specialize in medical oncology and a team of nurses, technicians and pharmacists who provide personalized medical care to people with cancer. Oncology services, including radiation oncology provided by an experienced team, also will continue to be offered at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital. “The community has asked us to consider offering oncology services at the Huntley hospital since it opened,” said Dr. Kumar Nathan, president of Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital. “Patients are looking for personalized cancer care, and we have created a program that provides advanced medical services close to where they live and work.”
As part of its expanded medical oncology services, Northwestern Medicine welcomes four hematologists/ oncologists to the northwest suburban team. Dr. Alan Wan, who previously cared for patients at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital, will serve as medical director. He joins Dr. Nida Hussain, Dr. Victor Medina and Dr. Naushin Shareef. All four physicians treat patients in McHenry and Huntley. “It’s a privilege to form a team with so many experienced cancer specialists in this community,” Wan said. “We will be able to coordinate each patient’s care with radiation oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, other physicians and staff to provide the treatment and support services they need. We’re also closely connected to other Northwestern Medicine hospitals to provide access to clinical trials and highly specialized surgeries that are only available at select academic medical centers.”
of Health. “We have to look out for each other, protecting not only ourselves but the people we care about and their loved ones, too.” Complaints of social distancing and masking violations at restaurants and bars have also risen in recent months. Across the region, public health staff have investigated over 300 business-related complaints since May 29, when Illinois entered Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois Plan. “We thank the majority of business owners who have already gone above and beyond to operate safely during this phase of the pandemic, you have truly stepped up to protect your patrons and staff,” said Mark Pfister, executive director of the Lake County Health Department. “At the same time, the recent volume of business-related complaints our staff are receiving and investigating every day is concerning,” said Pfister. “In our region, we are working with municipal leaders to step up local enforcement, reinforcing this message: these guidelines are not just a suggestion—they are critical to protecting the public’s health so that businesses can remain open.” All residents are urged to follow
the 3 Ws every day: • Wear a mask • Wash your hands • Watch your distance The 3 Ws must become part of our daily routines to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Both Lake and McHenry public health officials also recommend that residents avoid crowded places and all non-essential travel, as cases continue to surge in the United States and abroad. Under the state’s Restore Illinois Mitigation Plan, Lake and McHenry Counties make up the North Suburban Region 9. Any region that sustains an 8 percent positivity rate for three consecutive days or sees an increase in positivity rates and simultaneous decrease in hospital capacity will need to implement additional community mitigation interventions, according to the state’s plan. Interventions in the region will be chosen from a tiered ‘menu’ of options based on the severity and potential cause of the resurgence. Data-informed mitigation measures in the region may include restricting the size of social gatherings, reducing capacity at businesses, or scaling back activities that pose a
higher risk of transmission, such as indoor dining and bars. To view the North Suburban Region metrics on the Illinois Department of Public Health website, visit www.dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics and select Region 9. Metrics are updated daily, including testing positivity rates, hospital admissions, and hospital capacity. * The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) on Aug. 5 released information identifying a COVID-19 outbreak at Texas Roadhouse restaurant, located at 835 Cog Circle in Crystal Lake. Texas Roadhouse has voluntarily closed and is working with the MCDH so that it may safely reopen as soon as possible. The department appreciates the cooperation and commitment to protecting the safety and health of staff, patrons and the community. Anyone who has worked at or visited this establishment or is a close contact of someone who has worked at or visited this establishment between July 19 and Aug. 4 and has any COVID-19 like symptoms is encouraged to consult with their primary care physician and/or get tested.
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Public health officials in Lake and McHenry Counties are urging the public to take action to slow the spread of COVID-19. As of Aug. 3, the testing positivity rate in the North Suburban Region was 4.9 percent, with daily increases reported in 4 of the past 10 days.* Cases in the region continue to rise, with higher rates reported