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Additional Cases Reported, County Total Rises To 54

The health department said on Thursday, July 30, that there were two  additional lab-confirmed cases of COVID have been reported in Washington County:

The residents include:

1 female in her 50s with mild symptoms
1 male in his 40s with mild symptoms.  

 

3 cases have been released from isolation and can resume normal activities.

Isolation and quarantine orders are given through the interview processand can vary in length based on when symptoms started, when a person was tested, and when the health department is notified of the positive result.  

 

Summary includes

Case count:  54

Active: 12
Released from isolation: 42

Negatives:1199

 

We are noticing an increase in community transmission, including social gatherings where safety practices are not followed.  Follow safety precautions of social distancing, hand hygiene, wear a mask in public, stay away from large gatherings and groups that do not have safety precautions in place.  It is the responsibility of our residents and businesses to keep our communities safe.  

 

Definitions:

Active case: Lab-confirmed case that is on isolation.  
Isolation: A person is to stay home and have NO contact with anyone (including anyone in the household), except if in need ofmedical care or attention.  Responders are to wear personal protective equipment.  Through interview, a positive case is on isolation at least 10 days from the start of symptoms. A person is released from isolation when they are no longer considered contagious.
Close contact: Through interview, individuals who are thought to be at most risk of contracting COVID from a confirmed case during the contagious period.
Quarantine: Stay home and out of the public. A person is on quarantine for 14 days from the date of their last contact with a confirmed positive person. Symptoms can start up to 14 days afterexposure and can be spread unknowingly if someone is out in thepublic during this time.  

Failure to comply with voluntary isolation and quarantine orders can result in mandated, court-ordered isolation and quarantine.

COVID can be spread up to 48 hours before a person starts with symptoms.  Anyone who has been at gatherings where little to no safety measures were in place is at risk of contracting COVID-19 and are asked to 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. If you start with symptoms, isolate immediately and contact your healthcare provider about getting tested for COVID-19.

 

Information impacting the Phase of Restore Illinois, including numbers of new cases, hospitalizations, and ICU bed availability, is found at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus.  This data is used to help determine risk of transmission and can impact Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan.

 

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

 

Boost your immune system by eating a variety of healthy foods, including Vitamins C and D and Zinc, exercising, getting plenty of rest, and drinking plenty of water!

8 Comments

  1. Anonymous on August 1, 2020 at 10:39 am

    “This is a request not law!”…WRONG. A mandate, especially during a national (and world-wide for that matter) public health emergency/pandemic caused by a novel virus, is an official order or commission to do something. It is NOT a request. The state DPH, local boards of health, and authorized agents can enforce the mandate and use the help of local and state police to do it.

  2. Anonymous on August 1, 2020 at 8:00 am

    The spread has started, there is no stopping it now.
    Why are the hot spots open and why are people continuing to go to them? Because they dont care so think about that the next time you go to DG or Kroger and touch the freezer door.

  3. Anonymous on August 1, 2020 at 7:58 am

    You are wasting your time complaining, the spread has started, there is no stopping it now. And there are people who are not going to wear a mask no matter how much you bark up their tree. The real question is why are the hot spots open? Why are people continuing to go to them? Because they dont care.

  4. Anonymous on July 31, 2020 at 7:16 pm

    54÷15000 =.0036
    54 TOTAL positive cases since testing started
    15000 estimated population of Washington County.
    ONLY 0.36% of the population of the county has tested positive.
    12 ÷ 15000 = .0008
    This means Washington County has only .08% of the population with ACTIVE CoVid19
    SUMMARY: we’re doing just fine! No “outbreak” in the County!
    Keep washing your hands and stay home if you don’t feel well. Wear your mask (if you choose)

  5. Anonymous on July 31, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    Have you ever noticed in older magazines or in media videos how the Japanese people regularly gather in their communities and conduct business in their country while wearing surgical masks? I have and thought they must be an unhealthy people or the pollution must be really bad over there. It made me not want to visit Japan with half the people wearing masks but I soon learned more about their culture and safeguards they use in regards to their health and it changed my mind.
    Long before any pandemic the Japanese people demonstrated their respect for each other by voluntarily staying at home when they weren’t feeling well or had a cold. If they were to get out they wore a mask to prevent the spread of their germs to other people by means of speaking or accidentally coughing. They considered it dishonorable exposing others to contagious illnesses and disrespecting the elderly.
    Hmmmm, I think that would be a good act to follow if there were someone in our community that wasn’t feeling well. I know of 54 people that wish we would have acted like the Japanese when it came to their health and well being!

  6. Anonymous on July 31, 2020 at 3:06 pm

    This virus is not like the flu where it is usually very evident that you are sick. Some people have no or very minor symptoms. You could think it’s allergies or summer cold. In the mean time, you are walking around spreading it to other people. Some of those people could be diabetic or have heart conditions. Or they could have family or co-workers who have health conditions. I would like to think that no one would willingly do that. But, unknowingly some people are. If something so simple as wearing a mask can stop or at least slow down the spread, why wouldn’t you do so.

  7. Anonymous on July 31, 2020 at 12:43 pm

    Have you ever noticed from older magazine pictures or media video clips taken of the Japanese people gathering in their communities or conducting business in their country with face masks on? I have and also thought they must be sickly people or the pollution must really be bad over there.
    Long before any pandemic the Japanese people voluntarily practiced their repect for others by not to leaving their homes when they weren’t feeling well or had a cold. If they did leave their homes they always wore a mask to prevent the spread of their germs while they were speaking or accidentally coughing in public.
    Hmmmm, sounds like a good idea if there happens to be someone in our community not feeling well. I know of 54 people that wish we would have acted like the Japanese when it came to safeguarding their health.

  8. Anonymous on July 30, 2020 at 8:29 pm

    This is a request not law! The health department can not and has no power to make or enforce orders/ laws! They have no power over that its a request people. Yes stay home if your unwell but thats with any illness not just a Covid thing. And do so at your discretion.

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