I know a young person who is vaccinated and boosted but now has symptomatic COVID but is visiting Chicago, which is several states from home, and has very little money.
She can’t get on her flight home until she has quarantined.
What do people do in the situation?
Where do they stay?
How do they eat?
It’s Chicago. In the winter. It”s cold. She’s sick and away from home. Any ideas?
Is there a Covid hotline for Chicago? Could the public health department help?
Any ideas for social services she could contact as a starting point?
cope
Maybe the airline for which she holds her return ticket can make recommendations to her? Are the people she visited capable of providing a quarantine environment for her?
It might sound drastic, but apparently Chicago has programs in place to provide for homeless people who have COVID. Link below.
https://nhchc.org/clinical-practice/diseases-and-conditions/influenza/
Chbnna
I’m in Chicago and at the height of the pandemic last winter the city had hotels downtown that were being used for quarantining people, i don’t know if they’re still available. However, here’s a website with that has a information that could help, they can also dial 311 and ask the call center for help. This has been one of the most frustrating things about this thing, it just feels like people have been left to fend for themselves that we have to figure things out if we are exposed to covid if we end up with covid, etc…. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home.html
narya
Here’s the contact info from the CDPH website:
Please email us at [email protected] or call 312.746.4835.
The Chicago Department of Health has established a call center to address questions from the public. Phone lines are currently staffed from 8AM to 8PM Monday through Saturday and 8AM-4PM on Sundays.
Omnes Omnibus
A good question from Steve in the WTF? Stopped clocks and all that….
narya
She could also try a community health center (I can help w/ that if need be; closest one would depend on where she’s staying, or check out https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/ ).
MGB
City of Chicago resident.
This link is from the Chicago dept of public health, there’s links to get housing and shelter.
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/food-and-shelter.html
The Dangerman
With all the Holiday travel, this has to be a problem that is occurring with some regularity. Public Health would be my first call.
Ohio Mom
Maybe Steve in the ATL can send her some money — is wiring money through Western Union still a thing? Put a stay in an Airbnb or motel on his credit card? She can pay him back later.
Sign me,
Why yes, I’ve bailed a couple of people out
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@Ohio Mom:
Can confirm WU money wires are still a thing
Ohio Mom
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): So WU still available at the supermarket’s customer service desk — I must admit I try to avoid that part of the supermarket, always a long, long line.
Thanks.
EmbraceYourInnerCrone
@Ohio Mom: or sending her money through a cash app like Venmo. I have done that when my daughter needed money in college. Used to send her the rent money that way.
Ramalama
Paypal, CashApp, Venmo are pretty easy ways of sending money, too.
I have a cousin in Chicagoland, triple vaxxed, positive for Covid, asymptomic. Parts of my family, freaking out due to exposure. But they’re also triple V’d and negatory for Covid. So are breathing sighs of relief.
Where in Chicago is this person? Possible to get one of my sibs to drive out and drop off cash to this person’s door (and then run)!
Matt Smith
If Steve in ATL took up a collection, I’d contribute.
I found this page with shelter for residents and a recommendation to call 311 for other questions:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/health-care-workers/home/chicago-covid-19-isolation-facilities.html
The form to request shelter says they’re full as of Dec 25th, but I’d fill it out anyways, identify as homeless, and see what happens.
WaterGirl
@The Dangerman: Yep. I’m figuring that she is not the first person to experience this particular crisis, and she won’t be the last, so having good ideas and information all in one place seems like a worthy endeavor.
Lyrebird
@Ohio Mom: There’s a wire service called wise that is pretty handy internationally. And I would put in a fiver for this person if someone puts up a link.
Another Scott
@Omnes Omnibus: You might enjoy this: Defense.gov:
Cheers,
Scott.
Ohio Mom
Today I am reminded that I am a tech-ignorant old lady.
Ramalama
@Ohio Mom: If it helps any, I was super beyond the age of whatever when I finally learned / consented to learn how to text. I was of the phone me or email me stage of life.
Charluckles
Don’t know if it helps but you can rent a vehicle, fill it with gas and return that vehicle at a different location all with zero public interaction.
raven
@Another Scott: Redleg!
WaterGirl
@Charluckles:
That’s actually a really interesting idea.
Ramalama
@Charluckles: I thought car rentals were impossible these days due to Hertz and competitors selling off their stock at the beginning of the pandemic.
Another Scott
@Ramalama: It was horrible earlier ($660 a week around here in NoVA), but seems better now. Enterprise at Midway Airport claims to have cars for $50 a day/$280 a week, and up.
Cheers,
Scott.
gwangung
I’ll keep an eye if we’re taking up a collection.
Steve in the ATL
Thanks WG for the post and everyone for the suggestions! Hate to see this for someone who is vaxxed and boosted….
different-church-lady
The question on the rental car solution is “how symptomatic?” Highly feverish is no condition to be driving long distances.
WaterGirl
@Steve in the ATL: What is she doing right now, is she safe? Does she have family? Does she need money?
I know it’s not the 24th, but maybe we are getting a chance to help with the ‘no room at the inn’ issue, updated for 2021 and Omicron?
Ohio Mom
@Ramalama: That also describes me.
TonyG
I have a niece in Boston (fully vaccinated) who caught covid last week and has “mild” symptoms). She paid for and stayed in a motel in order to stay away from her roommate (who ended up also positive with “mild” symptoms. She will be OK, I think. The real question, I think, is what happens to people who cannot afford to just pay for a motel. This is one of that many ways that this country has been, and still is, failing its citizens.
RaflW
@Ramalama: It isn’t always easy, but not wild like before.
I have a 24h one way booked to pick up this afternoon (set it up two days ago). I want to meet up with my partner and it’s insanely expensive to fly one way MSP>MKE. Only Budget would rent one way. The other ‘big three’ said unavailable online.
Last summer when it was really bonkers, friends were in a wreck (other guy’s fault) in La Crosse, WI. They managed to get to the airport (no in-town locations had any cars) and were trying to book a car and nada.
One of the agents, on the QT said “uhhh, if you call and book a two week rental with return here, you’ll get a car. Then just drive it where you want and turn it in early. You’ll get charged a couple fees, but your vacation won’t be ruined.” IT WORKED. The 24h rental ended up being like $190 but three people didn’t miss their nonrefundable flight from MSP to Cancun!
Gammyjill
Please count me in to donate to this young woman’s plight. I’ll check back every few hours to see if a donation site has been set up.
jonas
@Ramalama: Rental companies have been restocking their inventories, which is partly why used cars are so hard to come by these days. I haven’t read any stories lately about major shortages or outrageous rental fees in any case — the media have moved on to how there are no Covid tests and why this is all Biden’s fault.
Matt McIrvin
@Ramalama: I did OK renting from Hertz (at BWI airport) when I saw my parents over the Thanksgiving break. I have the “Gold membership” that lets you pick your car from a whole section in the garage, and it seemed like they had plenty of cars there.
Redshift
I was in Chicago in August, and tried to reserve a car from Hertz in June, and got “no vehicles available” no matter what dates I selected. Managed to reserve a car from Avis. I don’t know if Hertz has managed to restock O’Hare since then, or if it’s still shut down, but other companies may be possible.
Steve in the ATL
I have passed on the suggestions to her, thanks again. I’ll let y’all (and also you guys and yinz) how it plays out. Seems like many people should have this kind of knowledge since it’s happening everywhere right now.
As far as donations, you Jackals are generous and kind as always, but it’s not necessary here—if push comes to shove she has family members who could help her out.
MazeDancer
NYC still has a free stay-in-a-hotel program for quarantine/isolation.
Chicago has certainly not closed down theirs. She should try the links posted above.
The NYC program is for New York residents. But if someone has been staying with you and gets COVID, they might qualify. If she was staying with Chicago residents, then maybe they could qualify her.
Obvious Russian Troll
I would be cautious about renting from Hertz; they’ve had a number of issues lately with reporting rental cars as stolen and getting their customers thrown in jail.
Sure Lurkalot
My nephew canceled his Xmas trip to see family in Texas because the brother of the woman he’s been seeing got COVID, gave it to her and their mother (forcing them to cancel their Xmas travel) and he had been with her about 3 days before she had symptoms. All vaxxed, not sure if boosted. Mild to moderate symptoms.
Then my nephew (boosted) started feeling stuffy and got a positive result yesterday. The restaurant he works at had an “outbreak” and closed for a few days. He seems to be doing well on day 4, still just congested and bored out of his mind.
CaseyL
Best of luck to the young lady!
Felanius Kootea
This is a helpful post! I was pleasantly surprised to read a thread on Twitter last week from a young woman who tested positive for COVID in NYC – she reached out to contact tracers and they hooked her up with food delivery, meds, and other resources. A real support system. I bet Chicago has the same and it’s just not well known. My sister-in-law works for Cook County – they seem to have resource links too but not sure whether that’s helpful for Steve’s friend. Hope she recovers quickly.
The Pale Scot
Fly Southwest, no problemo.
How did her airline find out she’s infected?
Felanius Kootea
@MazeDancer: This is great! Los Angeles also has free quarantine hotels for COVID. I know someone who stayed in one this summer.
ETA – he was able to stay there after several household members tested positive for COVID and he needed a safe place outside the home.
The Pale Scot
@EmbraceYourInnerCrone:
Or PayPal. Add a checking account to your ID, it’s a day I think to get verified
Chris Sherbak
Another Chicagoland Juicer – I’m near O’Hare (the suburb right next door: Des Plaines.) There are trains from there to the City so very easy to get there if the various resources listed above direct her there. Chicagoans are notoriously helpful – lot of immigrants and foreigners around – so tell her to feel free to just ask people if she’s feeling lost. Ditto on adding to a Venmo/Paypal/GoFundMe. Good luck and hope things end well!
nwerner
One-way car rentals are typically shockingly expensive.
dyspeptic
@Ohio Mom: the Karen counter?
Sh
Send her money by moneygram. This happens to poor people all the time. Or Venmo which is cheaper. I realize other people said this but it is true if you know people with money no problem. My friend was homeless for awhile because she didn’t know anyone to post first months rent.
Barry
@Ohio Mom: it should be available, and moreso in poorer areas.
Barry
I can kick in some money if it’s not PayPal.
WaterGirl
@Sh: I imagine your nym got goofed up there – if you reply and let me know what it’s supposed to be, i can fix it.
WaterGirl
@Sh: If you have money and resources and a support system, EVERYTHING is easier.
Ramalama
@RaflW: what a ‘hey macarena’ series of actions.
RaflW
@nwerner: It’s somewhat variable. But in my case, the choices were: 24 hr OW car $170 plus gas (a Camry traveling 350 miles, so no gig whoop). Or Delta ‘zero competition’ Air $459 to Milwaukee in economy. I get a free bag, but many don’t so could top out at $489! B.O.N.K.E.R.S.