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From: AGUDAH <communityservice@agudathisrael-il.org>
Date: 8/6/20 12:33 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: mates57564@aol.com
Subject: An Update from the Agudah
August 6, 2020
Dear Community
We hope this update finds you and your family well. As we continue our watch on the impact of COVID-19 on the country, state, and city, we must be thankful that life still seems to be shifting towards normalcy in many ways. In addition, Baruch Hashem, there have been very few cases in our community over the last two months with be"H no new serious illnesses over that time. That being said, there has been some concerning news that reminds us of the need to maintain caution.
As a state, cases are unfortunately on the rise, leading to Illinois being placed on certain other states' travel bans. Additionally, within our community there have been a few small clusters of cases in adults, teenagers and young children in all Chicagoland frum neighborhoods. Several day camps had to temporarily close. The quick responses by the camps and the community have allowed these camps to reopen and helped stem the spread of cases in the community.
We have been told by medical professionals that continuing to maintain vigilance is especially important to the efforts of reopening school with in-person instruction. (See below for additional information on school reopening developments.) Although we did receive the news that Chicago Public School will be doing remote learning, we hope and daven for there to be no spread of new cases and that our schools will be able to re-open (relatively) normally.
The US Census is well underway. Although our community's participation rate is on the rise, there are many households that have not yet participated. Every individual counted brings approximately $20,000 dollars into the community. For more information on why it is important to participate and for a list of FAQ's, please click here. To fill in the census now, please click here. Additionally, please see below for an exciting census raffle for all those who participate in the census.
Wishing you all the best, | | If you did not receive this email directly and would like to receive it in the future, please click here. | | School Reopening Developments
Yesterday it was announced that Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will be starting the 2020 school year with remote instruction and not using the hybrid model initially released by the City. This announcement followed the Friday release of the City's guidance for schools, which allows for in-person instruction, and has understandably led to some confusion and concern.
As part of the Mayor's school reopening task force group that worked on the guidance, we were informed on Tuesday about this decision and the reasons behind it. It was made based on a number of factors including feedback from many CPS parents and challenges specific to a district the size of CPS. It was not a decision based on new concerns about safety of having in-person instruction for ALL schools. The expert opinions of public health officials at the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has not changed. CDPH still maintains that it is safe to resume in-person instruction in our schools if the proper precautions are taken and safety plans are implemented.
We have consistently advocated for the ability to make autonomous decisions for our own schools if the conditions are safe, and not be automatically grouped together with policies adopted by public schools. We have been assured by the Mayor's administration and CDPH that as things currently stand, our schools' reopening plans will not be affected by this morning's announcement. If the positivity rates and the number of new cases in the city continue to climb, things could change. In addition, it's possible that the Governor will make a decision that will mandate remote learning for all schools. We continue to work with Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health to ensure our needs are being considered as decisions are being made. As recently as yesterday afternoon, a top administration official reassured us that as of now, "The Governor is not considering mandating remote learning." The situation, however, remains unpredictable and fluid, and contingency plans are being worked on. Sports Safety Guidelines
The State of Illinois released new safety guidelines for organized youth and adult recreational sports in accordance with the latest Covid-19 public health guidelines. Click here to see the guidelines.
| | The number of cases and positivity rates in Illinois and, to a slightly lesser extent, the City of Chicago, continue to rise. The metrics in zip codes 60645 and 60659 have also worsened. Thus far, hospitalizations and ICU admissions have not increased significantly in Chicago. While the numbers are not near the levels of March, April and May, there are serious concerns about a resurgence. | | Chicago Travel Order Updates: The City of Chicago has added a number of states to its travel Order requiring those arriving from designated states to quarantine for 14 days. These new states include Wisconsin, Missouri, North Dakota, and Nebraska. Additionally, the territory of Puerto Rico was added this week. In general, the order only applies to travelers who remain in these states for over 24 hours. There are some other exceptions to the Order (e.g. essential workers, medical care, parental shared custody). Additionally, the Commissioner of Health may grant exemptions based upon an organization's or business' testing and other control policies or in extraordinary circumstances. For more information and a comprehensive FAQ, click here. If you feel you qualify for an exemption and need assistance, email TSpielman@AgudahIL.org. | | This month, Agudath Israel of America, is proud to present an additional incentive for census participation. Each household that completes the census will be entered into a raffle to win $2,500. Simply send a screenshot that you completed the census to census@agudah.org and your family will be included in the pot. If you have already completed the census - no worries! Just complete the form on www.Agudah.org/census and you will be included as well.
The census can be completed at my2020census.gov or by calling 773-279-8400, extension 261.
| | New Rent Relief Program The Department of Housing and the Department of Family and Support Services have several initiatives to provide housing cost assistance to Chicago residents impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. A lottery (randomized) system is being used for this program as the demand for the assistance program is expected to be higher than the supply of funding available. If you feel you may be eligible for the housing assistance, you can apply on the Chicago Housing Assistance Portal by clicking here.
| | Click here for a list of government financial programs. call (773) 279-8400 ext. 261, | | If you missed last week's comprehensive update that contained additional relevant information, you can view it here. | | | | | | |
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