Coronavirus In IL: 6 New Cases, New Restrictions In Lake County

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Lake County Health Department announced Wednesday morning six new cases of the coronavirus in Lake County, including new evidence of community transmission not related to travel or close contact with a person known to have the coronavirus. According to a news release from the health department, 14 Lake County residents have tested positive for the virus since March 11, and public health officials continue to urge residents to take precautions to stay healthy and stop the spread of the coronavirus.

"Our Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) has been preparing for the spread of the novel coronavirus in our community for several weeks, and while we fully expect our number of cases to climb, we remind our residents to remain calm, practice good hygiene and social distancing, and stay home if you are sick," Lisa Kritz, Director of Prevention for the Lake County Health Department, said in the news release.

A recent study published by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that over 80 percent of people who become ill with the coronavirus have mild illness, according to the news release. Due to limited testing for the virus, people who do not have symptoms or only have mild symptoms are not recommended to get tested at this time.

"We are asking residents with only mild symptoms to stay home, distance yourself from others in the household, if possible, by staying in a separate bedroom and bathroom, and contact your doctor if your symptoms worsen," Dr. Sana Ahmed, Medical Epidemiologist at the Health Department, said in the news release. "We are prioritizing testing for symptomatic people who have high risk of complications — older adults living in congregate settings and those with chronic health conditions like heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, and those with weakened immune systems."

Related:

• Lake County Health Department Issues New Coronavirus Guidance
• 1st Lake County Coronavirus Case Is Man In 50s

The PHEOC staff is working to collect information on the availability of testing in Lake County and will provide updates on the Lake County website as information becomes available.

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According to the news release, in accordance with State of Illinois guidance, new recommendations for reducing the spread of COVID-19 include:

Community Events

• Beginning March 18, all community events with 50 or more people in attendance should be cancelled or postponed through the duration of the Illinois Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation.
• For gatherings of any size, residents should closely consider who is likely to attend the event and, if it includes vulnerable populations (e.g., elderly), strongly consider canceling.
• This includes community, civic, public leisure, faith-based events, sporting events with spectators, concerts, conventions, and any similar event or activity that brings together 50 or more people in a single space.
• This includes fitness centers/health clubs, bowling alleys, private clubs, and theaters.
• This does not include venues that provide essential goods or services such as grocery stores, hospitals, pharmacies, gas stations, banks/credit unions, and shelters.

Nursing Home Facilities

• Restrict all visitation except for certain compassionate care situations, such as end of life residents.
• Restrict all volunteers and non-essential health care personnel (e.g., barbers).
• Cancel all group activities and communal dining.
• Implement active screening of residents and healthcare personnel for fever and respiratory symptoms.

These new recommendations supplement those issued by the Health Department on March 13. These included the recommended cancellation of all large gatherings and measures to reduce social contact to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

People at the greatest risk of serious illness from the coronavirus are those with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, as well as older adults, according to public health officials. Long-term care facilities have been asked to take measures to protect their residents, and those among vulnerable populations were asked to avoid non-essential air travel, cruises, crowds and close contact with others.

"We recognize each of our communities is unique and jurisdictions need to consider tailoring their mitigation strategies to their characteristics and population," Lake County Board of Health President Tim Sashko said, in the news release. "However, these new recommendations provide common-sense steps every community can take now to reduce the spread of COVID-19."

If recommendations change, the Health Department will notify the public immediately.

Visit the Lake County website for updates on the coronavirus in Lake County and to sign up for the Lake County Health Department’s COVID-19 email newsletter.

More information and updates: Visit the Illinois Department of Public Health COVID-19 hotline and website to have any questions answered or to report a suspected case. Call 1-800-889-3931, email dph.sick@illinois.gov, or visit IDPH.illinois.gov.