GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

All Greater Joliet Area YMCA Facilities will be closed through at least April 7.

These are unprecedented times. COVID-19 (coronavirus) is a global pandemic and a national emergency, and nobody is certain what the next days, weeks or months hold.

Governor Pritzker has announced a statewide stay-at-home order aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. This order is expected to begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 21 and continue through Tuesday, April 7. This now means that our YMCA facilities will be closed and all programming will be canceled through at least April 7. Because this situation is ever-changing, we will share further communication as updates become available. Please take good care of yourselves and your loved ones.

As you know, this situation is ever-changing. We will share further communication as updates become available. Thank you for your continued support of the YMCA during these very uncertain times. Please take good care of yourselves and your loved ones.

As we near the end of the week, we wanted to provide you with an update concerning our YMCA’s efforts related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

As you know, our YMCA has been closely monitoring the spread of the Coronavirus as it relates to the safety and well-being of our YMCA community. While there has been a number of confirmed cases in Illinois, there have been no indications of a COVID-19 outbreak in our local communities. Regardless, we are preparing for the possibility that it may become more prevalent in our community.

To ensure we are prepared to support our YMCA community, we have been in contact with our local health department, other YMCAs, area hospitals, and local school districts. In the event this virus becomes a significant threat to our YMCA community, we will follow protocols put into place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

At this time, all Greater Joliet Area YMCA facilities remain open. However, at the advice of state health department officials and the Illinois Department of Aging, and out of an abundance of caution, the YMCA will be making adjustments to programs that serve vulnerable populations and involve large gatherings of people:

Effective Monday, March 16, the following programs will be canceled at all Greater Joliet Area YMCA locations until further notice:

• Fab 50- Including all meetings, potlucks, outings, and group activities
• Enhance Fitness
• Moving for a Better Balance
• Chair Body Works
• Chair, Mind and Body
• Senior Water Fitness Classes, including:
  C.W. Avery Family YMCA- Swimnastics, Aqua Nuts, Aqua Aerobics, Aqua Soothe, and Water Fitness
  Galowich Family YMCA- Swimnastics and Fab 50 Swimmers
  Smith Family YMCA- H20 and Rusty Hinges
• Morris Hospital Senior Fitness Classes
• Morris Hospital Prenatal Fitness Class

The YMCA is working closely with our partner school districts, and at this time, our before and after school Kid Zone programs and our Pint-Size Pupils program will run as scheduled. However, in the event local school districts close for an extended period of time for reasons related to the Coronavirus, the YMCA will NOT run Day Out of School programs at its facilities.

At the Y, we pride ourselves on providing a clean and safe environment for our members and staff. While these efforts always are important, they now take on even greater significance. Please know that our branch teams are working diligently to keep our facilities and busses clean.

It is important to remember that all of us play a role in preventing the spread of illness, and we encourage everyone in our YMCA community to practice good habits. Here are some simple things that you can do to keep yourself, your family, and fellow Y members safe and healthy:

• Washing your hands regularly, especially after using the restroom or prior to preparing or consuming food.
• Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hands or into the air. Try to cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue away. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your arm.
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose as much as possible.
• Stay home from work, school and the Y if you are feeling sick. Individuals should be fever free for 24 hours, without the aid of fever-reducing medication, before returning to the work, school and the Y after any illness. Staying home when sick is a critical prevention method.
• At the recommendation of the CDC, any Y member who has traveled, or has a family member who travels, to areas experiencing widespread transmission of the coronavirus (Level 2) should refrain from coming in to the Y for 14 days upon their return home. Additionally, any Y members who have immediate family members who have been directed to quarantine by the health department should refrain from coming in to the Y for 14 days.If you believe one of these scenarios might apply to you or if you have additional questions, please contact the Executive Director at your local branch.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Remember to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, such as tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, phones, toilets, and faucets. When using equipment in the wellness center, please remember to wipe down all equipment before and after your workout.

Please know that the health and well-being of our members and staff is our utmost priority. The Y will continue to share further updates in the event that new information directly impacts our YMCA community. Because this situation is ever-changing, please watch your email, follow the Y on social media, and visit our Coronavirus Headquarters for the latest updates regarding possible program cancellations and facility closures.

In challenging times, we have the opportunity to work together to make our community stronger. Thank you for your continued support of the YMCA.

ADDITIONAL COVID-19 RESOURCES

Illinois Department of Public Health: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/