Important Coronavirus Information from the Centers for Disease Control

How Coronavirus spreads:

-Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
-Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

The best way to prevent illness:
-Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
-Stay home when you are sick.
-Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
-Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
-Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
-If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Here are six reliable sources of up- to-date information:

1) The Centers for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Cook County Department of Public Health has a COVID-19 hotline and email address for the general public to receive answers to frequently asked questions. The hotline number: 708-633-3319 and email address, ccdph.COVID19@cookcountyhhs.org, will be staffed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Many Property Tax Exemptions will Auto-Renew this Year Due to COVID-19

Exemption applicants can now file online at Assessor’s website

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi reminds property owners that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois legislature is allowing the Assessor’s Office to automatically renew many property tax exemptions for tax year 2020. The following exemptions will automatically renew this year, for homeowners who received them last year for tax year 2019 and who remained eligible in 2020:

• Homeowner Exemption (annual auto-renewal)
• Senior Exemption (annual auto-renewal)
• Senior Freeze Exemption (2020 auto-renewal)
• Persons with Disabilities Exemption (2020 auto-renewal)
• Veterans with Disabilities Exemption (2020 auto-renewal)

In the next couple of weeks, hundreds of thousands of households will receive mail from the Assessor that confirms the auto-renewal of the exemptions placed on their homes. All exemptions will be applied to the second installment property tax bills issued in summer of 2021.

Property owners are advised that the first installment bill that was recently mailed to property owners does not reflect 2020 exemptions or assessment appeal, or COVID adjustments. By law, it is 55 percent of the total taxes paid the previous year.

The Assessor’s Office also identifies households who may be newly eligible for exemptions (such as homes that recently sold before January 1, 2020) and homes that have not received an exemption in the last two years. The Assessor’s Office mails Taxpayer Exemption Booklets directly to these homeowners. The booklets contain applications and instructions on how to apply for the Homeowner, Senior, and Senior Freeze Exemptions if eligible.

Applications for new exemptions are also available online via the Assessor’s website at cookcountyassessor.com and are due March 31, 2021.

In addition, the Assessor’s Office determines which properties may qualify under state law for the Longtime Homeowner Exemption, and mails an application to these homeowners.

Additional information regarding all exemptions may be found by visiting the Assessor’s website, www.cookcountyassessor.com/exemptions.  

RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE COUNTY BOARD HONORING THE 716 LIVES OF COOK COUNTY 13TH DISTRICT RESIDENTS WHO HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19 through September 13, 2020.