Answer the phone if health department calls

If you receive a call from the Oak Park Public Health Department, officials stress it is highly important that you answer the phone or return the call. Employees from the Health Department are working hard to protect the health of the community by stopping the spread of COVID-19 and could be calling you with important information.  

You may receive a call from the Oak Park Public Health Department because:

1. You tested positive for COVID-19.
2. You were in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and are at risk for becoming ill yourself or continuing to spread the illness unknowingly.

If you tested positive for COVID-19:
You will receive a call from an employee of the Oak Park Public Health Department who will interview you. They will ask you to provide names and contact information of people who you were in close contact as well as places you visited during the period of time when you were able to spread COVID-19 so that they can contact them. This process is called contact tracing.

If you were in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19:
The Health Department will also call you if they are aware that you were around someone who tested positive for COVID-19 during the time when they could have transmitted the virus to you.

Self-isolate, Self-quarantine, and Self-monitor

• If you have tested positive for COVID-19, the Health Department will ask you to self-isolate in order to prevent spreading the virus to anyone else. Self-isolation lasts a minimum of 10 days or 72 hours fever free, whichever comes later.
• If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 the Health Department will ask you to self-quarantine for 14 days from the last time you were with the person who tested positive. The Health Department will also recommend that you self-monitor by taking your temperature daily as well as staying in close communication with your medical provider.

Help your community through communication

If you and your medical provider suspect that you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and recommend that you self-isolate, let your close contacts know immediately so they can self- quarantine and self-monitor for symptoms as well. Inform your employer as soon as possible so they disinfect your work spaces and notify your co-workers. Answer the phone when the Health Department calls.

Keep in Mind:
If you don’t want to answer some of the questions, you don’t have to. The Health Department will protect your private health information.

Don’t be embarrassed or blame yourself. Many people are becoming ill and it is not your fault.

Calls from the Oak Park Health Department will most often come from a phone number with the prefix 708.358.xxxx. Officials will leave a voice message if they are unable to connect with you.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is posting a range of information related to contact tracing, including state-level contact tracing data and details about outbreaks, at www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/contact-tracing 

The Oak Park Public Health Department can be reached at 708-358-5480 or you can email health@oak-park.us.

More information about contact tracing is available on the CDC website.