5th IL Coronavirus Patient Flew Into O'Hare From Italy

CHICAGO, IL — State health officials on Thursday confirmed a fifth COVID-19 case in the state — a man in his 20s who flew into O'Hare International Airport earlier this month from Italy. State health officials said the Cook County resident is being treated in isolation at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Meanwhile, public health officials are working to identify and contact anyone who would have had close contact with the man, including those who were sitting close to him on his flight from Italy to Chicago, IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike said at a press conference Thursday morning.

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During a Thursday morning press conference, Gov. JB Pritzker laid out plans the state is taking to address COVID-19, saying that the risk to the public remains low.

"The state of Illinois is working around the clock to contain COVID-19 and educate the public," Pritzker said. "Public health officials anticipated there would be additional cases
and we will continue to implement robust measures to contain the virus while also preparing for
further transmission."

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Pritzker said state officials are working "around the clock."

The fifth case comes as some Illinois universities are bringing students home from study abroad trips to Italy and other countries. The outbreak in Italy — the worst in Europe, with more than 3,800 cases of coronavirus, including more than 100 dead and 270 recovered — prompted the country to shut down all schools and universities.

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Earlier this week, the Illinois Department of Public Health said it had confirmed the fourth presumptive coronavirus case in the state. The fourth patient, who tested positive for coronavirus through in-state testing that was being confirmed by the CDC, is the wife of a man who tested positive for the illness over the weekend.

On Monday, IDPH said the man was being treated in isolation at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, while his wife is well enough to stay home in isolation. Both are in their 70s.

The first two coronavirus cases in Illinois were a Chicago woman and her husband. Both have recovered after being treated at a suburban hospital and were released from home isolation.

This is a developing story. Check back to Patch for more updates.

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