43 Coronavirus Cases Confirmed at Glenview Church

GLENVIEW, IL — Village officials in Glenview were notified Friday morning that several people who attended a March 15 service at the Life Church of Glenview, 3030 Central Road, have tested positive for the coronavirus. The church later announced via Facebook that 43 members are suffering from symptoms suspected from the coronavirus. Since then, services have been live streamed. The village is cooperating with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Cook County Department of Public Health to learn more about the situation.

"[Coronavirus]. Yes. We have it," Layna Showalter LoCascio, wife of Life Church pastor Anthony LoCascio said in a lengthy Facebook post. "How do you tell people what it's like? We have 43 infected (at minimum) from our church or connected to our church from our last service (Sunday) March 15. They all haven't tested but whoever gets a test done ends up being positive and we all have the same symptoms."

The village does not have access to information about the positive coronavirus cases in the community. That information is held by the Cook County Department of Public Health for privacy reasons, according to a community alert from the village. The situation also highlights the importance of not participating in or hosting large gatherings, the alert said.

As of Friday, the U.S. has more reported coronavirus cases that any other country. On Thursday, over 2,500 cases and 26 deaths in Illinois have been reported.