The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
has confirmed the first positive case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in
Kankakee County.

It is important to remember that even
though there has been a confirmed case this is not cause for panic.

The Kankakee County Health Department is working
closely with IDPH, AMITA St. Mary’s Hospital and Riverside Medical Center to
prevent further spread of the disease.

We strongly recommend to continue social
distancing and other safety measures which include:

• Staying home as much as possible
• If gatherings are necessary, limiting the
  number of people to 10
• Calling to check on family, neighbors,
  and older adults instead of visiting
• Checking with your provider about
  telehealth options if you feel ill.
• Remember to continue using proper hand
  hygiene
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue
  or sleeve when sneezing or coughing.
• Do not shake hands. Instead, wave or
  elbow bump.

Most importantly stay home if you are
sick!  Avoid the Emergency
Department and other places you seek healthcare if you are not severely ill,
unless your doctor advises otherwise. Stay home and keep healthcare access
available for others with more severe illness.

If you have a respiratory illness, stay home for
7 days after your symptoms started and for 3 days after your fever has stopped
without the use of fever reducing drugs, and your cough or sore throat symptoms
have improved (whichever is longer).

When you should consult with your doctor:

• Fever, cough, shortness of breath or
  other cold or flu like symptoms and do not feel better after three to four
  days. Use telephone, text, telemedicine or a patient portal to reach out rather
  than going to your doctor in person if possible.
• You are an older adult or have chronic
  health conditions of concern (heart disease, diabetes, lung disease) and are
  exhibiting mild symptoms.

Note: You and your
provider will decide if you need to come to medical care. You usually do not
need to be tested unless you are admitted to the hospital.

Important notes about getting tested:

• Most illness caused by coronavirus is
  mild. IDPH currently recommends against testing persons with mild illness who
  can be safely managed at home. The recommendation is to self-quarantine at home
  stay home for 7 days after your symptoms started and for 3 days after your
  fever has stopped without the use of fever reducing drugs, and your cough or
  sore throat symptoms have improved (whichever is longer).
• This minimizes possible exposures to
  healthcare workers, patients and the public and reduce the demand for personal
  protective equipment.
• If you think you have COVID 19 and your
  illness is mild, and you are not older or with an underlying health condition
  of concern, you do not need to see your doctor and you do not need to get
  tested. Getting tested will not change how your doctor will take care of
  you. If you do not feel better in three to four days, call your provider and
  discuss next steps.
• Do to the limited capacity of testing Riverside
  Health Care and AMITA St. Mary’s will prioritize testing to those patients with
  severe acute lower respiratory illness or those who meet IDPH criteria for
  testing.

For general questions about COVID-19 call the
IDPH COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.

For information on actions you, your school,
workplace, and community can take, please visit Preventing COVID-19 Spread in
Communities at:  http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus/preventing-spread-communities

For daily updates on COVID-19 in Illinois follow
the IDPH Daily Updates page at: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus/media-publications/daily-press-briefings