New Positive COVID-19 Case Now Reporting

The 29th lab-confirmed positive case of coronavirus is now reporting, the Washington County Health Department said on Friday, July 17.

The health department said the county resident is a male isolated in his 30s with no symptoms. The individual was tested because he found he was “a close contact to a positive at his workplace.”

The summary of Washington County’s 29 confirmed cases include:

four active

25 released from isolation

0 deaths.

There have been 950 negative tests that have been reported to the health department to date.

More information from the health department

SAFETY

• Continue safe practices to protect yourself and others from disease. (Wash your hands, wear a mask if possible, socially distance) While masks are recommended to reduce the spread from someone carrying the disease, not everyone is able to tolerate or willing to wear one.  As temperatures rise and air quality worsens, those with health concerns and breathing problems have additional strains that make wearing a mask more difficult. 
• If you are at a higher health risk or do not feel comfortable in participating in activities, take extra precautions to stay safe during this time. 
• Work on boosting your immune system.  Get plenty of rest.  Drink plenty of water.  Eat healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables.  Exercise several times per week.

TRAVEL

As cases increase across the country, be cautious if planning travel.  Information about domestic and international travel, including infection rates and tips to stay safe can be found at:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.  At this time, IDPH and CDC recommends self-quarantining after returning from areas with higher incidence of COVID-19 to reduce local spread if it is contracted while traveling.

To monitor county information on current positive cases, deaths, and positivity rate, visit http://www.dph.illinois.gov/countymetrics.

WATCH FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.

*Although not an officially recognized sign, many of our positives report their first symptom as a “tickle” in their throat*.

Negative numbers reflect all residents who are tested, including those being screened for medical care and procedures and for employment purposes. 

For testing, contact your healthcare provider or find local testing sites at https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/testing-sites .  There is also an open testing site at the Jackie Joyner Kersee Center in East St. Louis.