CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) are today announcing that a fourth Illinois patient has tested positive for COVID-19. The tests conducted in Illinois resulted in presumptive positives for COVID-19. The positive test results will have to be confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lab. The individual is a woman in her 70s and is the spouse of the third case – a man in his 70s. This fourth case is quarantined at home and is complying with health officials. Both cases are reported to be in good condition.
Public health officials are working to identify and actively monitor
individuals who were in contact with both patients in an effort to prevent
additional transmission. Public health officials will reach out to
individuals who may have been exposed.
Governor JB Pritzker has requested that hospitals across the state implement
additional testing to improve surveillance for COVID-19. Illinois was the first
state to provide COVID-19 testing and Gov. Pritzker announced two more IDPH
labs in central and southern Illinois that will be able to test specimens this
week.
Illinois’ previously confirmed two cases of
COVID-19 and both patients made a full recovery.
Symptoms reported among patients have included mild to severe respiratory
illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Right now, the virus has
not been found to be spreading widely in the U.S., and the risk to the general
public remains low. Public health officials are encouraging the public to not
alter their daily routines and remain vigilant about keeping germs from
spreading, by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands with warm soap and
water, and staying home when sick.
