Board of Health — Skokie, IL
Date: 2022-02-10

Skokie Board of Health
 Thursday, February 10, 2022
 7:00 PM
 Board of Health Members – Virtual via Zoom Meetings



 AGENDA

 Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, this meeting is being held virtually. Members of the public who wish to comment as to
 an item on the published agenda must submit their statement or question in writing to Michael Charley,
 michael.charley@skokie.org and all properly submitted statements or questions will be presented to the Board of Health
 members and be made part of the record. Written comments also may be submitted by email to
 publiccomments@skokie.org by mail to Village of Skokie, Attn: Michael Charley with the Skokie Health Department, 5127
 Oakton Street, Skokie, Illinois, 60077; or via the Village’s drop box located by the public entry to Village Hall.



I. Call to Order

II. Approval of Agenda

III. Approval of Minutes: January 13, 2022

IV. Chair’s Report, Dr. Werner, BOH Chair
 A. Review of recent APHA/NAM webinar; current and potential developments with the COVID
 Pandemic
 B. Village of Skokie Smart911

V. Director’s Monthly Report, Mike Charley, Director of Health & Human Services

VI. Old/New Items of Business

VII. Public Comments

VIII. Adjournment


 Next Meeting: March 10, 2022, 7:00 p.m.

Skokie Board of
 Health Thursday,
 February 10, 2022
 7:00 PM
 Board of Health Members – Virtual via Zoom Meetings



 MINUTES

Present: Dr. William Werner; BOH Members: Dr. Swapna Dave, Margaret Keeler, Dr. Girija Kalyan
Kumar, Dr. Edward Linn, Heidi Nickisch Duggan, Dr. Rohit Pandya, Dr. Kyungran Shim, Dr. Romil Sood,
Patricia Urbanus, Irtaza Usman, Ruth Varma, Dr. Michael Vernon, Dr. Larry Williams; Sibyl Yau;
Emeritus: Dr. Michael Drachler; Staff: Mike Charley

Not Present/Excused: BOH Members: Dr. Bruce Gaynes, Juliet Haido, Maureen Hanlon, Dr. Jeremy
Swartz, Trustee Liaison James Johnson, Trustee Liaison Keith Robinson; Staff: Bruce Jones, Sue Reisberg


I. Call to Order @ 7:03 PM

II. Approval of Agenda: Approved via consent.

III. Approval of Minutes: January 13, 2022: Approved via consent.

IV. Chair’s Report, Dr. Werner, BOH Chair
 A. Review of recent APHA/NAM webinar titled “The Third Year of COVID-19: Is this the
 New Normal”: Dr. Werner presented what was presented as part of this webinar. He
 walked through a COVID-19 timeline and provided some insight as to what was
 occurring during different portions of the timeline. Examples included a lack of testing
 at the start of the pandemic, the challenges of contact tracing, mixed public health
 messaging, the politicization of the pandemic, the effectiveness of the vaccines,
 mitigation measures, telehealth, the transition from inpatient to outpatient care, school
 protocols and what is ahead such as new variants and whether masking will be required
 in the future.

 Dr. Linn commented that in general, individuals are not as vaccinated as they should be.
 Individuals should strongly be encouraged to be up-to-date with vaccine with individuals
 being boosted and/or a third dose for the immunocompromised. He feels like he would
 feel more comfortable with removing the masking mandate and/or individuals being
 able to remove their masks if they are up-to-date with their vaccines. He recommended
 that we should continue to encourage individuals get boosted. Mike Charley
 communicated that he would extract ICARE data and look to see if he can determine
 how many Skokie residents have received more than 2 doses of Moderna/Pfizer or more
 than 2 doses of Johnson & Johnson. Charley communicated that the weekly SkokieNews
 has included information weekly on boosters and encouraged individuals to get their
 third or booster doses.
 Dr. Williams commented that he has attempted through Vax Verify to find his
 vaccination records, however the system says his vaccination records don’t exist,
 despite the fact that he has received the initial two doses from DuPage County and a
 booster from Walgreens. He didn’t see anywhere within that process where he could
 contact someone at the State of Illinois with questions about this. Rohit Pandya
 recommended that Dr. Williams contact a pharmacist at Walgreens directly to inquire
 about his COVID-19 dose. Dr. Williams also related that he believes a fourth booster
 dose is being recommended by the CDC & FDA for those that are immunocompromised.
 If this is the case a message should be sent out on this. Dr. Linn communicated that
 although Israel has recommended a fourth dose, that here in the US this has not yet
 been recommended; although it is being considered.

 B. Village of Skokie Smart911: Dr. Werner communicated that Skokie has a new
 notification system and all Skokie residents are encouraged to sign up for the service,
 even if they had signed up for the prior notification system. The system will be used to
 notify residents of emergencies, snow messaging and/or other important notices.
 Individuals can also input any relevant medical conditions such as mobility issues that
 will help with Village response and service to the community.

V. Director’s Monthly Report, Mike Charley, Director of Health & Human Services
 Charley presented on the current status of COVID-19, which included updates on a decrease in
 cases since January 7, 2022 in Skokie, the Sangamon County Circuit Court’s temporary
 restraining order associated with schools and masking and presented Skokie COVID-19 data.
 Charley communicated that the Skokie HHS intends on ending its mask order and proof of
 vaccination order on/around February 28, on the same timelines of the State, Cook County &
 the City of Chicago ending their mask and/or proof of vaccination orders. Lifting the orders is
 contingent on COVID-19 cases in the region decreasing, positivity rate decreasing and hospital
 data supporting this decision. Charley also provided other non-COVID updates including
 updates on HHS open positions, the co-responder program and the Oakton/Village Certificate
 program partnership.

 Heidi Nickisch Duggan communicated that at District 202 & 65 they both communicated that
 they will continue to follow the science with requiring masking and continued testing in their
 schools. She communicated that those two schools are using a spit test for COVID in the
 schools and this is the only in-school testing option. She has concerns that there are children
 that cannot spit and therefore do not get tested. Charley communicated that he may be able
 to inquire whether other school districts in Skokie are offering alternative tests to those
 children that cannot participate in the Shield testing, at a meeting he has with Skokie school
 superintendent’s tomorrow morning.

 Dr. Werner mentioned that he had submitted to the Federal government to receive the free-
 rapid COVID tests and has not received anything yet. Several BOH members responded that
 they had received their free tests, several responded that had not.

VI. Old/New Items of Business: None

VII. Public Comments: Two public comments were received from a single email address. No name
 was provided as part of the public comments. Mike Charley read those public comments to the
 BOH members. Charley communicated that he would respond to the individual’s public
 comment emails in the AM tomorrow.

VIII. Adjournment @ 8:06 PM


 Next Meeting: March 10, 2022, 7:00 p.m.