Cook County Sheriff Dart Tests Positive For The Coronavirus

COOK COUNTY, IL — Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is recovering at home after receiving confirmation Friday that he tested positive for the coronavirus, the Cook County Sheriff's Office announced Saturday.

According to a news release from the sheriff's office, Sheriff Dart was tested on Tuesday after he began feeling symptomatic on Nov. 20 and immediately self-quarantined. Sheriff Dart last worked on Nov. 19, the sheriff's office added.

As of Saturday, Sheriff Dart was still symptomatic and remains under the care of his doctor, according to the news release.

Sheriff Dart isn't sure where he contracted the virus, but has been working around the clock to combat the spread of the virus at the sheriff's office, according to the news release.

More:

• Cook Co. Sheriff Concerned COVID Surge Will Lead To Infections In Jail
• IL Reports 6,190 New Cases, 85 Deaths, As Vaccine Starts To Ship

State health officials on Monday reported 6,190 new cases of the coronavirus and 85 more deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. Out of those 85 people, 65 of the deaths reported Monday were women and men from Cook County.

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Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the state health department, said last week that officials hope to receive about 400,000 doses of the Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine within days of its approval by the Food and Drug Administration. That could happen within weeks, and reports indicate shipments of the vaccine are already coming into O'Hare Airport in Chicago.