COVID-19

Resources and Facts: What you need to know

Easterseals Midwest has been working hard to respond to the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Following our organizational policy, we have implemented a 12 member Coronavirus Task Force to address questions, concerns, and to communicate updates surrounding this situation. Below we have compiled a list of resources, FAQs, and updates in one location for you. Please check back frequently, as this information will continue to be updated. 

Staff Vaccine Information

Staff, if you want the vaccine, please send the following information to vaccine@esmw.org.

  • Your full name
  • Work Email Address
  • Phone Number
  • Name of the city and county you live in

The team reviewing these emails will help you get signed up in your local community, with one of our partner pharmacies, or for a future mass vaccination event. 

Event Vaccination Protocol

Vaccine Resources

HHS Announces Hotline to Improve Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Disabilities             
Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois Vaccine Information

Resources

FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance         
National Institutes of Health

Centers for Disease and Prevention
World Health Organization
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Illinois Department of Public Health

Easterseals Midwest Community Updates

I am Easterseals, I am Essential: Read stories of hope from our staff
Family Resources/Activities

Parents of Autistic Children Face Unique Challenges during Pandemic (1/10/2020)   
Missouri Group Homes for Disabled Still on High Alert During Pandemic (8/10/2020)     
Wendy Sullivan Pens Letter Urging Congress to Fund Medicaid Program (8/14/2020)     
Easterseals Midwest Partners with KC Businesses to Support Area Essential Workers (7/2/2020)    
Easterseals Midwest Partners with Area Businesses to Support Local Essential Workers (7/1/2020)   
Line of Services not going away for Missourians with developmental disabilities - St. Louis Post Dispatch (5/29/2020)  
Easterseals Midwest help to honor Veterans on Memorial Day at Mount Hope Cemetery (5/21/2020)
      
An update from CEO Wendy Sullivan - 590 The Fan, He Said, She Said; starting at 36:00 (5/16/2020) 
  
Local Disability Organization Implores Programs be Included in Essential Government Funding - St. Louis Post Dispatch (5/13/2020)   
An update from CEO Wendy Sullivan - KMOX (5/4/2020)
  
An update from Executive VP of Services and CPO Tec Chapman - KCUR (4/21/2020)
An update from Executive VP of Services and CPO Jeanne Marshall - MissouriNet (4/12/2020) 
Hiring Update - KMOV (4/9/2020)
Hiring Update - St. Louis Business Journal (4/5/2020)
An update from Executive VP of Services and CPO Tec Chapman - KFRU Columbia (3/25/2020)
An update from CEO Wendy Sullivan - KTRS The Art and Jennifer Show (3/24/2020)  

Organizational Update: A Message from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (11/1/2021)         
Organizational Update: A Message from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (9/1/2021)         
Organizational Update: A Message from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (7/1/2021)         
Organizational Update: A Message from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (5/1/2021)    
Organizational Update: A Message from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (4/1/2021)    
Organizational Update: A Message from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (3/1/2021)     
Organizational Update: A Message from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (2/1/2021)    
Organizational Update: A Message from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (1/1/2021)
         
Organizational Update: A Message from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (11/1/2020)
     
Organizational Update: A Message from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (10/1/2020)    
Organizational Update: A Message from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (9/1/2020) 
Organizational Update: A Message from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (8/1/2020)      
An Update from our Individual Engagement Committee Chair, Katrila Dugger (5/1/2020)   
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (4/2/2020)

We're here for everyone who counts on us: COVID-19 (3/19/2020)

Update on Upcoming Events Throughout April 2020 (3/16/2020)
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (3/13/2020)

Easterseals Midwest Staff Updates

COVID-19 Strategy Update (1/21/2022)    
COVID-19 Strategy Update (1/10/2022)     
COVID-19 Strategy Update (1/7/2022)

Connect & Protect (9/22/21)    
Connect & Protect (9/15/21)    
Connect & Protect (9/8/21)   
Connect & Protect (8/25/21)   
Connect & Protect (8/18/21)      
Connect & Protect (8/11/21)       

COVID-19 Policy Update (7/20/2021)        
COVID-19 Policy Update (5/21/2021)         
COVID-19: Vaccination Update   
COVID-19: An Update from CEO, Wendy Sullivan (12/11/2020)    
COVID-19: An Update from CEO, Wendy Sullivan (11/13/2020)    
COVID-19: An Update from CEO, Wendy Sullivan (10/21/2020)   
COVID-19: An Update from CEO, Wendy Sullivan (9/11/2020)  
Coronavirus & Other Important Updates (8/27/2020)    
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (8/7/2020)      
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (7/31/2020)       
COVID-19: Travel Policy Update (7/1/2020)
     
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (6/5/2020)         
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (5/29/2020)        
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (5/22/2020)       
COVID-19: Policy and Procedure Acknowledgement (5/18/2020)       
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (5/15/2020)            
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (5/8/2020)    
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (5/1/2020)     
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (4/24/2020)
 
COVID-19: An Update from our Board Chairman, Dr. Rob Woerther (4/23/2020)

COVID-19:An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (4/17/2020)  
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (4/8/2020)    
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (4/3/2020)

COVID-19 Missouri Update (4/3/2020)
COVID-19 Training Update (4/2/2020)
COVID-19: A Message from our Board Chairman, Dr. Rob Woerther (3/26/2020) 
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (3/25/2020) 
COVID-19 Springfield and Greene County (3/24/2020)  
COVID-19 Columbia and Boone County (3/24/2020)  
COVID-19 St. Joseph Update (3/22/2020)  
COVID-19 St. Louis City and County Update (3/22/2020)  
COVID-19 Kansas City Update (3/22/2020)  
COVID-19 Illinois Update (3/21/2020)  
COVID-19 Leave Update (3/20/2020) 
COVID-19 Illinois Update (3/20/2020)  
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (3/18/2020)  
COVID-19 Training Update (3/17/2020)  
COVID-19 Remote Update (3/17/2020)  
COVID-19: An Update from our CEO, Wendy Sullivan (3/16/2020) 
COVID-19 Update (3/13/2020)  
COVID-19 Update (2/28/2020)  

Staff FAQ
Staff Leave Policy

I am Easterseals, I am Essential

General FAQs about Coronavirus:

What is Novel Coronavirus?

A novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.

What is Social Distancing?

Social distancing is a term applied to certain actions that are taken by Public Health officials to stop or slow the spread of a highly contagious disease. This is a positive way to protect yourself from exposure to the coronavirus or flu.   Learn more ways to keep healthy by visiting the World Health Organization.

Why is the disease being called coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19?

On February 11, 2020 the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak, first identified in Wuhan China. The new name of this disease is coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19. In COVID-19, ‘CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ and ‘D’ for disease.

There are many types of human coronaviruses including some that commonly cause mild upper-respiratory tract illnesses. COVID-19 is a new disease, caused by a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans. 

Why might someone blame or avoid individuals and groups (stigma) because of Coronavirus

People in the U.S. may be worried or anxious about friends and relatives who are living in or visiting areas where COVID-19 is spreading. Some people are worried about the disease. Fear and anxiety can lead to social stigma, for example, towards Chinese or other Asian Americans or people who were in quarantine.

Stigma is discrimination against an identifiable group of people, a place, or a nation. Stigma is associated with a lack of knowledge about how COVID-19 spreads, a need to blame someone, fears about disease and death, and gossip that spreads rumors and myths.

Stigma hurts everyone by creating more fear or anger towards ordinary people instead of the disease that is causing the problem.

How can people help stop stigma related to Coronavirus

People can fight stigma and help, not hurt, others by providing social support. Counter stigma by learning and sharing facts. Communicating the facts that viruses do not target specific racial or ethnic groups and how COVID-19 actually spreads can help stop stigma.

What is the source of the virus? 

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some cause illness in people, and others, such as canine and feline coronaviruses, only infect animals. Rarely, animal coronaviruses that infect animals have emerged to infect people and can spread between people. This is suspected to have occurred for the virus that causes COVID-19. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) are two other examples of coronaviruses that originated from animals and then spread to people. 

How does the virus spread?

The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”). Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected. Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses.

Can Coronavirus be spread through food, including refrigerated or frozen food?

Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets. Currently there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food. Before preparing or eating food it is important to always wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds for general food safety. Throughout the day wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, or going to the bathroom.  Learn what is known about the spread of COVID-19.

Am I at risk for Coronavirus?

This is a rapidly evolving situation and the risk assessment may change daily. The latest updates are available on CDC’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) website

How can I help protect myself? 

Visit the COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment page to learn about how to protect yourself from respiratory illnesses, like COVID-19.

Who is at higher risk for serious illness for Coronavirus?
Some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness including older adults, and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease.

What is the CDC doing about the Coronavisus?

This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available. CDC works 24/7 to protect people’s health. More information about CDC’s response to COVID-19 is available online.

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