Coronavirus In IL: 1st Lake County Case Is Man In 50s

LAKE COUNTY, IL — Lake County and state health officials announced Wednesday a Lake County resident has tested positive for coronavirus. The resident is a man in his 50s, and is the first confirmed case in the county, according to a news release from the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center. The man is in stable condition, and public health officials are investigating his travel history and any potential contact with anyone who is confirmed to have COVID-19.

“Our staff is working to rapidly identify, interview and assess the risk for close contacts of the first COVID-19 case in Lake County,” Lisa Kritz, Director of Prevention for the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center, said in the news release. “Our priority is the health and safety of all who live, work, and play in Lake County, and we continue to use every available resource to prepare our communities for additional cases of COVID-19.”

As of Wednesday, the there are 25 presumptive cases in Illinois; 17 in Cook County, 1 in Kane County, 1 in McHenry County, and 1 in Lake County.

According to the news release, health officials said more cases of coronavirus are expected in the U.S. and in Lake County as the World Health Organization characterized coronavirus Wednesday as a pandemic.

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Lake County health officials said everyone has a role to play in getting ready and staying healthy, and urge residents to continue taking preventive actions to prevent the spread of illness by remembering the 3 C’s: Clean, cover, contain —

Clean

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects.

Cover

• Cover cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.

Contain

• Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

For updates on the COVID-19 situation in Lake County and to sign up for the Health Department’s COVID-19 newsletter, visit lakecountyil.gov/coronavirus, or for general questions about COVID-19, call the Illinois Department of Public Health hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.