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* Press release…
– The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) are today announcing that a fourth Illinois patient has tested positive for COVID-19. The tests conducted in Illinois resulted in presumptive positives for COVID-19. The positive test results will have to be confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lab. The individual is a woman in her 70s and is the spouse of the third case – a man in his 70s. This fourth case is quarantined at home and is complying with health officials. Both cases are reported to be in good condition.
Public health officials are working to identify and actively monitor individuals who were in contact with both patients in an effort to prevent additional transmission. Public health officials will reach out to individuals who may have been exposed.
Governor JB Pritzker has requested that hospitals across the state implement additional testing to improve surveillance for COVID-19. Illinois was the first state to provide COVID-19 testing and Gov. Pritzker announced two more IDPH labs in central and southern Illinois that will be able to test specimens this week.
Illinois’ previously confirmed two cases of COVID-19 and both patients made a full recovery.
Symptoms reported among patients have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Right now, the virus has not been found to be spreading widely in the U.S., and the risk to the general public remains low. Public health officials are encouraging the public to not alter their daily routines and remain vigilant about keeping germs from spreading, by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands with warm soap and water, and staying home when sick.
Easier said than done about that last point. If you don’t have paid sick leave at your job, staying home could mean financial devastation.
* Earlier…
Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights confirmed Monday morning a patient who’s tested positive for coronavirus is being treated at the northwest suburban hospital, as a local school district told parents two staffers and their two children were staying home because of exposure to a person who treated someone with coronavirus.
The patient was the third in Illinois to be diagnosed with coronavirus. The hospital issued a statement saying it is following all associated protocol, including examining who the patient may have had contact with and treating the patient in isolation.
The hospital statement said the state is requesting assistance from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention team and confirmation of the diagnosis from one of its labs.
Researchers who have examined the genomes of two coronavirus infections in Washington State say the similarities between the cases suggest that the virus may have been spreading in the state for weeks.
Washington had the United States’ first confirmed case of coronavirus, announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Jan. 20. Based on an analysis of the virus’s genetic sequence, another case that surfaced in the state and was announced on Friday probably was descended from that first case.
The two people live in the same county, but are not known to have had contact with one another, and the second case occurred well after the first would no longer be expected to be contagious. So the genetic findings suggest that the virus has been spreading through other people in the community for close to six weeks, according to one of the scientists who compared the sequences, Trevor Bedford, an associate professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington.
Dr. Bedford said it was possible that the two cases could be unrelated, and had been introduced separately into the United States. But he said that was unlikely, however, because in both cases the virus contained a genetic variation that appears to be rare — it was found in only two of the 59 samples whose sequences have been shared from China, where the virus originated.
* Daily Herald…
In preparation for a possible outbreak, the Illinois Department of Public Health is assessing hospitals throughout the state for available space should more people require care for coronavirus infection. The department also is assessing the availability of personal protective equipment — gloves, masks, gowns, goggles and the like — for health care workers.
Health care providers and their individual hospitals, meanwhile, are preparing themselves by implementing infection prevention protocols, screening patients for symptoms and risk factors, and running drills on their response to a positive diagnosis of COVID-19.
“We assembled a team representing infection prevention, emergency preparedness, supply chain and other departments to ensure our facilities are prepared with ample supplies and support to keep our patients and team members safe,” said Dr. Gary Stuck, chief medical officer of the Downers Grove-based Advocate Aurora Health hospitals.
* This is a very real problem…
A Florida man tested negative for coronavirus but was billed $3,270–so many will avoid testing. We need universal health coverage: It protects all of us. Same for paid sick leave: You want a sick person to stagger to work to prepare your food? My column https://t.co/x0ReCjqLLT pic.twitter.com/kPkauLNCz1
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) March 1, 2020
*** UPDATE *** Media advisory…
UPDATED: Daily Public Schedule: Monday, Mar. 2, 2020
What: Governor JB Pritzker and Director of Illinois Department of Public Health Dr. Ngozi Ezike to provide update on COVID-19 cases.
When: 2:30pm
Where: Blue Room, Thompson Center, Chicago
…Adding… Watch or listen live…
https://multimedia.illinois.gov/balance/press-live.html
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 12:00 pm
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The necessity of having to pay for being sick leads to greater sickness…Healthcare is a human right or it isn’t…depending on where one attempts to live.
Geography is destiny.
Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 12:07 pm
Kristof should relax. We have top men working on this. Top men.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/02/azar-crosshairs-delays-coronavirus-tests-118796
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 12:11 pm
Miami Herald points out this patient voluntarily canceled his Obamacare policy last year…
Last year, Azcue said he was covered under an Affordable Care Act-compliant plan that cost him about $278 in monthly premiums…..Those premiums shot up to $400 a month when his full year salary kicked in, so he canceled his plan in November
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article240476806.html
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 12:17 pm
[This comment was deleted. See below for why]
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 12:17 pm
I am shocked at that the idea that the patient might have to pay for the screening test is even in discussion. This is public health 101.
Comment by Montrose Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 12:20 pm
I would suggest if you really want to vote in the primary you do so via early voting.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 12:23 pm
A large portion of our population lives paycheck to paycheck with no sick pay and limited access to healthcare. Just because you don’t fall into one of these categories doesn’t mean that you’re immune to the consequences.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 12:26 pm
Are these cases connected to China or Italy or do we have community spread. When is testing expanded so we can find out? If the feds don’t pay we have the tests? We need to start testing flu like and pneumonia cases now!!!!!
Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 12:28 pm
Staying home is a financial strain. It’s also going to be a strain if you have large insurance deductibles.
Comment by NoGifts Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 12:29 pm
I’ve been reading up on this. It’s going to spread for many reasons. One of which is the fact that most of us won’t even realize we have it. It will feel like a cold. We won’t even think to go to the doctor or get tested. We won’t realize that we were even exposed. Because we will feel like it’s a cold, we won’t see a reason to stop our daily activities.
It’s deadlier than the flu because we have no antibodies built up.
We can follow instructions about washing our hands, not sneezing or coughing on people. We can stop going to visit people who are already sick with something else. They don’t need this since they are the ones most adversely affected by it. What we can’t do is test every single person in the US in a timely manner. So it will spread.
Comment by thoughts matter Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 12:33 pm
As an election judge I am not looking forward to serving the public for 12 hrs at the polls. But I will, barring any further unforeseen events over the next two weeks.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 12:37 pm
Pritzker should establish a work-from-home policy for employees that qualify. Businesses should as well. It’s a better alternative to using sick time.
Comment by Casual observer Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 12:37 pm
The degree to which this is going to hammer the US because of our dual failures to implement both universal health care and paid time off/paid sick leave is almost… whatever the German is for “it’d be hilarious except for all the people dying.”
Comment by lakeside Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 1:06 pm
It’s the potential for outbreaks in long term nursing and rehabilitative care facilities that concern me the most right now. A highly susceptible population contained in closed buildings and serviced by the same shift staff, creates the greater likelihood of cross infection before “patient zero” has even been identified. This seems to be the situation with a number of the diagnosed Coronavirus patients in Washington State as of now.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 1:07 pm
Absolutely nobody should have to pay to be tested for the virus. Nobody. Testing in these cases should be paid for by the federal government. When you are trying to contain what for all intents and purposes has now turned into a pandemic the fact that individuals are responsible for the cost of testing is outrageous. This is a potential national health emergency. The government needs to step up and pay for it.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 1:14 pm
If this is a *Public* Health issue, why isn’t the government paying for the testing. This is just nuts.
Comment by G'Kar Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 1:21 pm
There’s no way this virus can be contained. As testing increases, the numbers are going to go pretty high, and that’s only those willing to be tested.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 1:26 pm
Oh and what about immigrants who do not have authorization to be in the US. They can still be carriers of this illness and are uninsured and less likely to access the health system due to fear. All of this re-enforces the need for health coverage for all as infections affect every person here not just citizens.
Comment by illinifan Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 1:29 pm
So U of I and Loyola are bringing back their students who are studying in Italy ASAP. Are they all going to be tested before being allowed to go back on to campus? While the virus isn’t really in the wheelhouse of them getting infected they could be carriers, as shown in Washington. With spring break approaching the non-susceptible populations of Universities will be coming home to see parents and grandparents, populations that have shown to be ripe for this virus.
Have the universities addressed that fact? As well as how may University students will be going through airports this spring break and end up coming in contact with folks who may be carrying?
Comment by Frank talks Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 1:49 pm
Where can you watch his press conference?
Comment by Nick Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 1:53 pm
I like how people differentiate between paying thousands for a test when they might be affected, but if the disease is just going to kill “you,” you’re on your own. That’s one of the ways our current system doesn’t make sense.
Comment by NoGifts Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 2:12 pm
6 now dead in Washington
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/king-county-now-has-14-coronavirus-cases-including-5-deaths/
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 2:30 pm
Hi Rich,
We saw that a commenter today said that several schools in Arlington Heights had shut down due to the coronavirus. We confirmed with the superintendent of District 25 in Arlington Heights that no schools have closed. The district sent a letter to families saying several teachers and students may have had contact with someone else who had had contact with a patient who has the coronavirus. The district said that the local public health department cleared them to have school as usual.
Thanks,
Jackie
Jackie Matthews
Director of External Communications
Illinois State Board of Education
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 2:55 pm
That commenter saying Arlington heights Is closing schools, is how “panic” sets in. All it takes are rumors and the “fear” virus becomes worse than the actual virus.
Folks rushing to stores and buying out sanitizers and Clorox wipes etc. doesn’t help either. the media feeds off it as they go for their never ending pursuit of fear for ratings.
Remember years back when Ebola was going to turn the US into the Walking Dead? Thank you CNN
Comment by Frank talks Monday, Mar 2, 20 @ 4:26 pm