Jo Daviess Health Department closed to public

GALENA–In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Jo Daviess County Health Department released a statement limiting services to the public on Thursday, March 19.

The health department building will be closed to the public until further notice and services during the time will be limited to allow staff to respond to emergencies that assure public health and safety measures continue.

The environmental health applications can still be submitted to the office, but only by email at environmentalhealth@jodaviess.org or fax at 815-777-2977. Animal control will only respond to emergency situations at this time. Immunization and lab draw services have also been suspended.

If you have business that cannot be conducted by phone or email, you must call the health department at 815-777-0263 for an appointment or screening before visiting the office. Office hours will continue to be 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

For questions about COVID-19, call the Illinois Department of Public Health hotline at 800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.

“If people want to get tested, there is information about screening criteria on the website, but they must contact their physician’s office for screening and an appointment,” said Sandra Schleicher, public health administrator. “There is a drive-thru clinic being held by FHN in Freeport, but you must still have an appointment and meet certain criteria. I have not seen any information about testing in Dubuque at this time.”

Schleicher said that there is no testing being done at the Jo Daviess County Health Department and at this time there are no plans to do so.