Four New Positive Cases Now Reporting In Washington County

The Washington County Health Department announced on Monday, August 10, that four new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reporting in the county.

The residents include a female in her 40s with mild symptoms who was exposed at her workplace; a male in his 20s who contracted the virus through community spread; a male in his 60s who the health department is working to contact; and a male in his 50s with mild symptoms who is a household contact of a confirmed case.

The health department also said two cases have been released and are able to resume normal activities.

The summary of the county’s 67 cases include nine active, 58 released from isolation, four hospitalized, and no deaths. There have been 1,386 negative results reported as of Monday.

“We are noticing an increase in community transmission, including social gatherings where safety practices are not followed,” Administrator Elizabeth Lehde said. “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.”

More information from the health department:

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 of medical 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 after exposure and can be spread unknowingly if someone is out in the public 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 open testing 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!