(NEWS3) — More coronavirus cases are being confirmed across west-central Illinois.
Fulton County Health Department and Graham Hospital announced two cases of COVID-19 were reported Friday. Officials said one of the positive cases is a Fulton County resident and the other is from McDonough County. Both patients are recovering at home in isolation. Officials said the patients did not need or seek hospitzation.
Warren County Health Department also reported its first coronavirus case Friday. The Warren County resident is a man between the ages of 20 to 40. No other information was released.
This news comes hours after McDonough County Health Department reported its first confirmed coronavirus case Friday. McDonough County officials said the patient was tested in another county, but staff have not confirmed with NEWS3 if the Fulton County case is connected.
The health departments are conducting a contact tracing investigation in order to identify any close contacts of the positive COVID-19 cases.
“We understand this development will cause heightened concern but know that the health and safety of our residents is our highest priority,” Fulton County Health Department Administrator Katie Lynn said. “We continue to encourage residents to practice social distancing, stay at home as much as possible and wear a cloth face mask when out in public.”
Here are the latest COVID-19 test results in the NEWS3 viewing area as of Friday:
- McDonough County: 1 positive, 50 negative, 2 pending
- Schuyler County: 1 positive, unknown negative and pending
- Hancock County: 1 positive, 26 negative, 10 pending
- Warren County: 1 positive, 14 negative, 1 pending
- Fulton County: 2 positive, 22 negative, 2 pending
- Knox County: 1 positive, 85 negative, 16 pending
- Adams County: 26 positive, 254 negative, 50 pending
“If we all ’follow the rules’ (mask, wash hands, social distancing, etc.), we will continue to flatten the curve and return to some sense of normalcy very soon,” President and CEO of Graham Health Systems Bob Senneff said.
Fulton County public health staff said, “With the very limited testing available, no one can guarantee that Graham Hospital might not have already had a patient in the hospital who had COVID-19 but was either never tested, or was tested and discharged with their test results coming back positive several days later. The reality is, some private testing turnaround times are taking in excess of 10 days which delays Graham being notified of the results.”
Health officials continue to stress the social distancing standard of at least six feet, wash your hands often and wear a cloth face mask when out in public. It should be assumed that anyone you come in contact with could be asymptomatic and spread the virus.
