Community Corner
Coronavirus In IL Now Outside Cook County: 'We Expect More Cases'
As the Illinois case count hits 19, state officials anticipate event cancellations and are urging residents to be prepared.
CHICAGO, IL — As another eight cases brought Illinois' coronavirus case count to 19, Illinois officials say there is growing evidence of community transmission — in other words, coronavirus spreading among those who haven't traveled to high-risk areas but contracted it at home. The new cases include the first outside of Cook County, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said.
The new cases include a McHenry County man in his late teens who has ties to Lake and McHenry counties and a Kane County woman in her 60s. Those two patients have no history of recent travel or contact with any other coronavirus patients, and they do not work in healthcare, Pritzker said.
All eight new patients are in good condition and are being treated in isolation, state officials said.
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Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, responded to concern over the coronavirus affecting young people, as is the case with the McHenry County teen.
"Although we do have younger individuals (who have the coronavirus), based on what we've seen in other countries, the virus appears to show more severe illness in older adults," she said.
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Ezike also stressed that behind the statistics are real human beings.
"Behind these numbers are actual people, people who are scared and don’t know what’s going to happen to them," she said.
Pritzker said with the new cases, his priority is the safety of Illinois' most vulnerable populations — the elderly, those in nursing homes and care facilities, and those with underlying conditions like diabetes, heart disease, lung disease and immune conditions.
Coronavirus In Illinois: Everything You Need To Know, How To Prevent Spread
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Coronavirus Could Affect St. Patrick's Day Events, Voting
Pritkzer also hinted that large events like the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade could be canceled in the coming days. "We've been in close contact with organizers," he said. "They may be making announcements tomorrow about decisions that have been made."
For now, organizers have said the St. Patrick's Day Parade and the South Side Irish Parade are still on.
At least four Chicago-area schools have closed due to coronavirus exposure. Pritzker also said the coronavirus may affect polling places for the March 17 primary, particularly those in senior citizens facilities or veterans homes. On Tuesday, Pritzker directed a polling place to be moved out of the Quincy Veterans Home.
"Polling places are looking at alternative sites to keep seniors safe," the governor said.
Pritzker, who on Monday issued a disaster proclamation, also expressed frustration with the federal response to the coronavirus. "In a number of ways, the federal government has not been helpful," he said, adding that he doesn't feel Illinois has received enough coronavirus tests. "I am very frustrated with the federal government."
But he said the disaster proclamation allowed for the activation of a state emergency operations center.
"All our tools are in play," Pritzker said. "As this situation has evolved, I've consistently said that Illinois has one of the strongest public health systems in the nation."
More Cases Coming
Ezike urged older adults and those with underlying conditions to avoid large gatherings and limit activities in the community.
"Unfortunately, we expect and anticipate more (cases)," she said, adding that she expects additional community transmission to happen.
She said the state is also asking long-term care facilities, nursing homes and hospitals to restrict visitors under age 18, as well as those with a cough or flu-like symptoms. Those facilities should also be screening employees for fever.
"We want everyone to start thinking and preparing now for the virus to circulate more widely in the community," she said.
That includes everyday health actions like washing your hands, covering your coughs and sneezes and disinfecting surfaces that are touched frequently.
Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said anyone over age 60 and those with underlying conditions should be preparing.
"Now is the time to work on getting any underlying conditions into the best possible shape that they can be," she said. "This is not thinking about causing panic, it's thinking about as we see potential additional spread, we don't want people coming into the medical system who don’t need to be there."
That could mean making sure patients have medications readily available, she said.
"Now is a fantastic time for everybody in Chicago and in Illinois to think about other ways to be as healthy as you can," including making sure you get enough sleep, eating healthy, drinking enough water and getting enough exercise, Arwady added.
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