More Frigid Temperatures in Chicago

We know you know, but it's cold in Chicago again this week. 🥶

The City of Chicago maintains warming centers on weekdays when temperatures are 32 degrees and below, and libraries and Chicago Parks District facilities are open for those who need shelter from the cold. If you're in need of non-emergency health or social support, call 3-1-1 for help.

Stay warm and safe out there: 

• Wear several layers of loose, warm clothing, paying special attention to keeping your head, ears, hands and feet warm. 
• Stay as dry as possible - being wet makes your body lose heat much faster than normal. 
• Avoid alcoholic beverages, as alcohol dilates blood vessels, which makes the body lose heat faster. 
• Use caution when using electric heaters and clear the area of clothing, blankets, or other flammable items. 
• Do not use gas ovens and burners to heat your home. 
• Naloxone/Narcan freezes below 5 degrees Fahrenheit. If someone is experiencing an overdose, do not wait for it to thaw, call 9-1-1. 

South Side Healthy Chicago Event This Weekend

Phalanx Family Services — serving the Far South Side of the Healthy Chicago Zones (HCZs) — in collaboration with the CDPH and other local partners, invites Chicago residents to attend the "Call to Action" event on Saturday, February 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kroc Center Chicago, 1250 W. 119th St. The event is free and open to all community members and will focus on hypertension and violence prevention. Attendees will hear from speakers on hypertension management, preventative care, self-defense, trauma support, HIV testing, dental screenings, vision and mammogram information, and participate in panel discussions. Additionally, vendors will provide resources on other priority health areas, including diabetes, environmental health, mental health, and strokes.

For the past three years, Phalanx Family Services has been committed to addressing health disparities in the Far South Side, including the communities of Burnside, Calumet Heights, East Side, Morgan Park, Riverdale, Roseland, South Deering, and Washington Heights. Through focus groups and surveys, Phalanx Family Services has identified the area's key health needs, and these insights have played a crucial role in shaping the priority health areas for the region. This event will also serve as an introduction to the Healthy Chicago 2025 Strategic Plan for the community.

Through initiatives like this, CDPH and the HCZs are working to foster healthier, more equitable neighborhoods, ensuring all residents have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. 

CDPH Featured on Our Chicago

CDPH was recently featured on ABC 7's Our Chicago, where three key drivers contributing to the life expectancy gap between Black and non-Black Chicagoans were discussed. According to Dr. Simbo Ige, CDPH Commissioner, the disparity is primarily fueled by chronic diseases, gun violence, and opioid overdoses. CDPH is tackling this issue with the Healthy Chicago 2025 Strategic Plan, focusing on three Chicago communities - Englewood, Lawndale, and Austin - to improve access to healthcare, nutrition, and mental health services. Read and see the full ABC Our Chicago story , and read CDPH’s Healthy Chicago 2025 Strategic Report.

CDPH Celebrates Black History Month

Dr. Maya Green, Founder and Chief Health and Equity Officer of Onyx Medical Wellness, a CDPH community partner, has been a trailblazer in health equity, spearheading COVID-19 testing centers on Chicago’s South and West Sides to address healthcare disparities. Dr. Green is a featured speaker with The Queen’s Initiative, a CDPH wellness program for Black Women, and Onyx Medical Wellness is a pilot participant in CDPH’s Innovative Initiatives, a new holistic community program. Her impactful work has been featured on ABC News Chicago, Rolling Out, and Roland Martin, highlighting her commitment to community health and equity. Read more about Dr. Maya Green on the Onyx Medical Wellness website.

Healthy Chicago Podcast

What is emergency preparedness?

On a new episode, Dr. Alex Sloboda (Medical Director of Immunizations and Emergency Preparedness at CDPH) sits down with Joe Amaro (Senior Emergency Management Coordinator with CDPH) to discuss emergency planning and how Chicagoans can best prepare themselves for future public health emergency situations.  

Listen or watch the newest episodes on YouTube, Spotify, Apple and the CDPH website.

Respiratory Virus Update

Overall acute respiratory illness activity level decreased from High to Medium across Chicago. Flu activity remains High although all influenza surveillance indicators decreased slightly from last week. COVID-19 activity remains Low but has increased slightly from the previous week. RSV activity remains Low and continues to decline across all surveillance indicators.

For more information, see CDPH's respiratory virus dashboard, updated weekly with current hospital and wastewater data for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.

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