Cicero Moves Forward with Reopening Business Despite High Rates of COVID-19
“Hay mucha gente que está sin trabajo,” says Guerrero. “Para sus gastos, para la renta, para pagar biles y todo esto necesita la gente mucha ayuda.”
Cicero resident Pablo Guerrero stands in line to get tested for COVID-19 on May 22 during a one-time testing popup location. He is experiencing coronavirus symptoms and was told to get tested by his employer (Photo by Irene Romulo).
By Irene Romulo
On Friday, May 22, the Town of Cicero and El Shaddai Church partnered with Howard Brown Health Center to host a one-day, walk-up testing location in a Cicero parking lot at 5410 W. 34th Street.
“Well, I think it [testing] is too late because there have already been many who are infected,” said Eva Urbina, a Cicero resident who stood in line to get tested. “They should have done this as soon as the first confirmations began to arrive to prevent so many people from becoming infected.”
The majority of positive COVID-19 cases in Illinois can be narrowed down to five zip codes, one of which is Cicero where 30 percent of people who have been tested for the virus have tested positive as of June 1. These high rates come as more businesses have begun lifting some restrictions starting on June 1.
“The 30 percent is higher than what we are normally seeing, so that’s saying that we need to pay extra attention to the Town of Cicero,” explained Dr. Karriem S. Watson, Associate Executive Director of Mile Square Health Center. “For whatever reason there may be increased risk of infection based on what we are seeing in the small percentage of the population who has been tested.”
“We wish we could have done this [testing] a lot sooner...but as many people know, times are challenging right now and the Town of Cicero we feel that we’ve gotta be able to spend taxpayer money wisely,” said Maria Punzo-Arias, the Town of Cicero Clerk who was present at the May 22 event. “Believe me there’s been lots of talks with different health organizations and for some reason, everyone that wants to do mass testing wants to charge,” she continued. “The way we see it as elected officials is why do we have to use taxpayer money to do testing that is supposed to be free?”
Early testing is important because it can help detect the virus in individuals before they show symptoms thus allowing people to self-quarantine and stop the spread, according to Dr. Rachel Rubin, Senior Medical Officer for the Cook County Department of Public Health during a recent virtual town hall to address disparities in Cicero.
“We now know that many people can get COVID-19 without having any symptoms or just having mild symptoms,” explained Rubin. “Therefore we need to have a lot more testing so that we can catch people before they even have symptoms from COVID because this is the period of time when they are most contagious.”
While there are no walk-up testing locations in Cicero, as of May 27, a limited number of Cicero residents will now be able to get tested at ACCESS Health Center, one of the only testing locations in the area. Residents looking to get tested have previously had to visit nearby testing locations.
The ACCESS Health Center location, will require that people make appointments to get tested, something that Dr. Maya Green, Regional Medical Director for Howard Brown, says can cause barriers to increasing access to testing. Green says Howard Brown plans to host another walk-up testing location in Cicero later in June.
Image from the Illinois Latino COVID-19 Initiative
Cicero residents step up
As Cicero Independiente has reported in the past, despite a high percentage of Spanish speakers in the Town of Cicero, Spanish language materials about COVID-19 are hard to find. The Town of Cicero has begun translating some of their COVID-19 updates on social media but concerned Cicero residents worried about the lack of Spanish-language resources have organized to provide information about testing and resources to their fellow community members.
The Berwyn Cicero Mutual Aid Network, a group that recently formed to provide supplies and funds to people impacted by the coronavirus, for example, organized a virtual town hall on Saturday, May 30 to discuss testing and other coronavirus information. A recording of the Spanish-language video can be found here.
“It’s very important that there’s clear communication as to what is happening in our community especially for Spanish-speaking people,” said Alma Rosario, a Cicero resident who helped organize the virtual town hall. “We need information about COVID and the risks that are still happening and making this accessible to them.”
Myths about COVID-19 presented during the Spanish-language town hall on May 30 by Dr. Marina del Rios who works at University of Illinois Hospital.
The Spanish-language virtual session was attended by at least 60 community members and was live streamed on Facebook. Attendees were able to ask questions via Zoom, Facebook chat and text message. A variety of medical experts were available to answer questions in Spanish about symptoms, best practices and testing amongst others.
Rizoma Collective, another organization in Cicero, has also released a set of demands for Town President Larry Dominick. Demands include requests for rental assistance and income support for affected residents during the pandemic.
“These demands to Cicero President Larry Dominick, are ones that illustrate a need for security in our health and our finances,” explained Antonio Benavides, Cicero resident and member of Rizoma in an emailed statement. “If we are to navigate this pandemic as safely as possible, people must have access to the resources that will keep them healthy and cared for, and they must be accommodated and compensated justly to survive this vulnerable economy.”
“Whereas many Americans received stimulus checks under the CARES Act, we are demanding that those in our community who were ineligible to receive these checks, to be assisted by the Town’s emergency relief fund,” Benavides continued.
Local organizations are also supporting families with young children and infants. The All Our Kids Network and the Early Childhood Committee of the Cicero Community Collaborative have created emergency diapers and baby formula bank for families in need.
Cicero moving forward with Phase 3
The lack of multiple testing locations has not deterred Town of Cicero officials from considering reopening businesses starting on June 1 as part of Phase 3 of Governor J.B. Pritzer’s Restore Illinois plan.
During Phase 3, non-essential businesses are allowed to open with restrictions and gatherings of 10 or fewer people are allowed. Barbershops, nail salons and hair salons will be allowed to open despite the risk of infection associated with these places. In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot is implementing restrictions that are stricter than those recommended by the state.
“We are moving to phase three as the governor has said that we should,” said Ismael Vargas, Business License Director for the Town of Cicero over the phone. According to Vargas town employees will be delivering letters to local businesses with information about state guidelines they must follow in order to reopen.
Restaurants looking to open up outdoor seating will have to email Vargas with detailed plans and sketches.
When asked about concerns over moving forward with allowing these businesses to open despite the high numbers of positive COVID-19 cases in Cicero, Vargas responded, “Yes it is a huge concern but again our goal is that we will follow the businesses to make sure that they are following the guidelines...People who are not following it will receive citations or will be closed. It is a concern but we are trying to find a way that we can work with the businesses.”
The Cicero Public Library will also be re-opening soon.
“We will be in compliance with Governor Pritzker’s Phase 3 recommendations, and our information will be on Facebook as well as the library's website, as soon as it's finalized,” stated Sandra Tomschin, director of the Cicero Public Library, via email.
Cicero residents like Delia Barajas say that in order to lift strict restrictions there should be mass testing, education and training for community members to be contact tracers.
“I don't think our community is ready to open up,” says Barajas. “Latinx communities have disproportionately been adversely impacted with the Covid-19 cases.”
The town spokesperson did not return additional requests for comment.
Liliana Solarte, owner of Lily’s Hair Studio in Cicero, is a local business owner who will be reopening on June 1. She says maintaining physical distance while cutting someone’s hair will be difficult but she will take all the precautions necessary like cleaning often and wearing masks.
“I’m going to work because I have to but I’m not so comfortable with it,” Solarte explained over the phone. “One is with a bit of distrust. I see that some people don’t take this seriously and don’t take precautions.”
The risk is not gone
“We remain at risk of contracting the virus until there is a vaccine available,” explained Dr. Jennifer Vargas, Alivio’s Medical Director, over email.
Alivio Health Center has a location in Berwyn and has been offering free testing to Cicero residents. “We must continue wearing our face mask and maintaining social distance while out in the community and visiting with family and friends,” Dr. Jennifer Vargas stated.
Initially, the Berwyn Alivio location did not have enough testing kits or personnel to meet the demand but they have since improved their process, according to Dr. Jennifer Vargas. One thing she wants patients to understand is the importance of staying home while waiting for test results. For many essential workers in Cicero, however, this can be difficult.
“Many of our patients feel the pressure to have to work from either their employers or from financial stress within their family and therefore do not abide by the recommendations of staying home until test results are given,” she explained via email. “Even once a positive test result is received some of our patients don’t understand why they must self isolate especially if they are asymptomatic.”
64 Cicero residents and 34 Berwyn residents have died from COVID-19 as of June 1, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner records. Mortality rates are concerning but as Dr. Watson explained over the phone, there are other side effects Cicero residents should be concerned about.
“We know that we don’t know all the late side effects of being positive with COVID-19 and while mortality or death is the ultimate concern from COVID-19 we also know that there’s other...short and long-term side effects,” said Dr. Watson. “We don’t want mortality and death rates to be the only thing that drives our concern and caution as it relates to COVID-19.”
Where to get tested in Cicero
The new testing location at ACCESS Health located at 3044 S. Cicero Avenue will not be conducting walk-up testing. People who want to get tested must first call 1.800.836.7633 to schedule a telehealth appointment. On a recent call open to community members, a representative of ACCESS Health explained that a telehealth visit will be used to gather important contact information and provide education about the coronavirus.
Anyone over the age of twelve will be able to get tested at the location. Individuals will be tested for free regardless of immigration status or lack of medical insurance.
Other nearby testing locations can be found in this article.
