
2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Please note this page is meant to provide general information on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) to families. Below you'll find a list of recommended resources, frequently asked questions and recent news articles related to COVID-19. Because the situation is rapidly evolving, for the most up-to-date information, please continue to refer back to this page or the resources listed below.
COVID-19 Call Center
For questions related to testing criteria and general information about COVID-19, please contact our COVID-19 Call Center at 312.227.5300. The Call Center is staffed by Lurie Children’s nurses and is available Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments
Lurie Children's is no longer offering Bivalent COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
COVID-19 Testing
Lurie Children’s has discontinued routine COVID-19 testing prior to procedures. Because of the decline in demand for testing, the COVID-19 testing drive-thru site at Clark/Deming location is now closed.
COVID-19 News
COVID-19 Updates for Families
Please refer to the information below:
- FAQs: COVID-19 Vaccines and Cases of Myocarditis
- FAQs: COVID-19 Vaccines in Transplant Patients
- Siragusa Transplantation Center Frequently Asked Questions on Recent CDC Mask Guidance
- COVID-19 and the Flu
- Guidance for Return to School for Transplant Families
- Keeping Your Infant and Child’s Vaccine Schedule During COVID-19
- Managing Anxiety in Toddlers and Preschoolers With COVID-19 Specific Tips
- Parents with Children Experiencing Respiratory Symptoms at Lurie Children's - Why Am I Being Asked to Remain in My Child's Room?
- Supporting Families Touched by Neurodevelopmental Disabilities During Self-Quarantine
- VIDEO: COVID-19's Impact on Children
- Youth Town Hall with Governor Pritzker and Colleen Cicchetti, PhD
In-Person Clinic Visits
Your child's health is critical. Please keep all milestone and vaccination appointments or any other scheduled appointments that will keep your child well and healthy, and begin to reschedule those that have been postponed. Lurie Children's is an environment where your family’s safety and health is our priority.
The following measures are in place at our main hospital as well as our outpatient centers to ensure your safety:
- All patients, staff and visitors are required to wear a mask, which will be provided to you
- All patients, staff and visitors are screened for COVID-19 symptoms
- Any COVID-19 suspected patient is isolated
- All emergency room patients are isolated
- Social distancing is practiced throughout all of our facilities
It is also important to note that there is very minimal spread of COVID-19 amongst children.
For any questions about an upcoming in-person visit, please contact your physician's office.
MyChart
During this time, please remember you can access your medical records online, communicate directly with your healthcare provider, refill a prescription and more using Lurie Children’s MyChart.
If you do not have a MyChart account, sign up using the link below.
Resources & Support
- COVID-19 Resource Center (Illinois Department of Public Health)
- Coronavirus Response Center (City of Chicago)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Get the Facts (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- COVID-19 and Reopening Resources (West Side United)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources You Can Use (Voices for Healthy Kids)
- COVID-19 & Back-to-School (Alliance for a Healthier Generation)
- 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- COVID-19 Risk Level Dashboard (Harvard Global Health Institute)
- Center for Childhood Resilience
- Injury Prevention & Research Center Buckle Up Program (car seats for new parents)
- Contact: 312.227.7081 or garciam@luriechildrens.org
- Heartlight Program (bereavement supports)
- Contact: 312.227.3930 or heartlight@luriechildrens.org
- Workforce Education Virtual Internship Programs
- COVID-19 Guidance for Medically Fragile Children (Illinois Department of Public Health)
- COVID-19 Information for Children with Special Healthcare Needs and Disabilities (Complex Child)
- COVID-19 Information for Children with Neurological Disorders (Child Neurology Foundation)
- Back to School Resources for Child Neurology Community (Child Neurology Foundation)
- COVID-19 Resources for Children with Special Health Care Needs (Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health)
- Return to School Preparation Guide for Children with Special Education Needs (UIC Division of Specialized Care for Children)
- COVID-19 Resources for Children with Medical Complexity (CMC) and CMC & COVID-19 ECHO Sessions (The Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network to Advance Care for Children with Medical Complexity and American Academy of Pediatrics)
- COVID-19 Resources for the Disability Community (Access Living)
- Return to School for Youth with Special Healthcare Needs – Key Questions and Considerations for Families
- COVID-19 and Educational Activities for Children (Lurie Children's)
- Return to School for Youth with Special Healthcare Needs (Lurie Children's)
- When There is No Perfect Solution: Return-to-School and Kids with Special Healthcare Needs (Lurie Children's)
- CPS School Reopening 2020 (Chicago Public Schools)
- Fall 2020 Learning Recommendations – July 23 (Illinois State Board of Education)
- Analysis of School Reopening Plans Across the U.S. (Johns Hopkins University eSchool+ Initiative)
- COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Pediatricians, Educators and Superintendents Urge a Safe Return to School This Fall – July 10 (AAP News Release)
- Back to School Checklist (English and Spanish)
- Return to School During COVID-19 (AAP)
- Return to Learning During COVID-19 (Northwestern Medicine)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates and Information (Greater Chicago Food Depository)
- Supporting Our Communities through COVID-19 (FoodCorps)
- Chicago Public Schools are giving out free meals from Monday to Friday. Please call the Healthy CPS Hotline 773.553.KIDS to find the closest school to you. No ID needed for pick up.
- Rental Assistance (Dept. of Family and Support Services)
- COVID-19 Recovery: Rental Assistance Program (Cook County Government)
- Emergency Rental Assistance (Illinois Housing Development Authority)
- COVID-19 Resources for Families with Young Children (Office on Early Childhood Development)
- Sittercity Child Care
- Brain Building Exercises (ExceleRate Illinois)
- First Transit 866.503.9040
- Blue Cross Community HFP-MMAI (Logistic Care) 1.877.831.3148
- CountyCare – MCO (First Transit) 1.630.403.3210
- Illinicare Health – FHP MCO 1.866.329.4701
- Meridian Health Plan 1.866.606.3700
- Molina Health Care 1.844.644.6354
- Call4Calm – text “TALK” to 552020 or for Spanish text “HABLAR” to 552020
- The Illinois Department of Human Services’ Mental Health Division has launched a free-of-charge emotional support text line, Call4Calm, for Illinois residents experiencing stress and mental health issues related to COVID-19.
- Call4Calm is free to use, and individuals will remain anonymous. Once you send a text to the hotline, a counselor from a local community mental health center will contact you within 24 hours.
- Individuals can also text 5-5-2-0-2-0, with key words such as “unemployment” or “food” or “shelter” and will receive information on how to navigate and access supports and services.
- For pregnant, postpartum mothers and concerned caregivers: If you are feeling overwhelmed, you can call Northshore's MOMs hotline 866.364.MOMS (866.364.6667) for 24/7 emotional support and referrals to therapy, psychiatry and support groups.
- NAMI Helpline: If you’re in a mental health crisis, call 1.800.950.6264 or text "NAMI" to 741741.
- How to Cope with Anxiety Related to Coronavirus (COVID-19): This website suggests ways how to cope with stress during the pandemic.
- Free online guided meditation: meditationmuseum.org
Frequently Asked Questions
COVID-19 Basics
Coronaviruses belong to a family of viruses that most frequently cause a mild illness like the common cold. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a new or novel coronavirus that was not previously known to cause illness in people. This new virus was first identified as the cause of the outbreak that began in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019, and has since spread to a growing number of international locations, including the US. From time to time new coronaviruses emerge and have the potential to cause severe disease and global epidemics. For example, the SARS and MERS viruses are both coronaviruses that previously caused outbreaks of severe respiratory illness around the world. We are learning more about COVID-19 every day, and Lurie Children’s is working closely with public health officials to minimize risks to our patients, families and healthcare workers.
Coronaviruses are mostly spread from person-to-person through:
- Respiratory droplets produced from coughing or sneezing (especially within six feet of another person)
- Close personal contact such as touching or shaking hands
A person may also get infected by touching a surface with the virus on it, and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes before cleaning their hands.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Yes. The CDC now reports that individuals can safely receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time of other vaccines. Similarly, if you just received the flu shot in the past few days or plan to soon, you do not need to plan on spacing vaccines out.