LEE COUNTY — Between Sept. 8 and Sept. 14, the Lee County Health Department has reported a total of 25 new cases and here are the ages that have been announced: 2 in his or her late teens, 1 in his or her 30s, and 1 in his or her 60s. Two students from Dixon Public Schools have tested positive. LCHD is conducting contact tracing with the schools and family; and quarantining individuals identified as close contacts. Eleven other reported cases are in Dixon Correctional Center inmates.

This brings the total number of cases to 299. Of the 299 cases, 253 have recovered. Currently, there is one resident hospitalized due to COVID-19.

The Unified Command Team would like to remind our community that COVID-19 remains in our area and continues to be a real threat. 

Some people who have tested positive have had no symptoms or mild symptoms. Others have felt miserable or even been hospitalized.  

Although there are individuals considered at a higher risk for complications due to COVID-19, some otherwise healthy people have also become very sick.  The more the virus spreads & the more cases we have locally, the risk of very ill or hospitalized individuals increases.

Please, for yourself and others, follow the state and federal recommendations.  It’s easy to remember as the 3 W’s:  Wash your hands; Watch your distance; and Wear your mask. We don’t want to backtrack from the great work our community has done.  Also, we’d like to mention the process of contact tracing. If your local health department tries to contact you, please answer or return their call. Some people may feel distrustful or afraid of the term “contact tracing.” 

What to do if you think you have or have been exposed to COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals with symptoms SHOULD NOT GO to health care facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and urgent care centers without CALLING FIRST. Instead, they can seek care by using one of the following options:

Testing:

Anyone with COVID-19 like symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, chills, sudden loss of taste and or smell and fever) OR who have a risk factor, such as contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19, a compromised immune system or a serious chronic medical condition can get a test, even without a doctor’s order. And now the following people can be tested with or without symptoms.  

• Work in health care facility

• Work in correctional facilities, such as jails or prisons

• Serve as first responders, such as paramedics, emergency medical technicians, law enforcement officers, or firefighters

• Support critical infrastructure , such as workers in grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, gas stations, public utilities, factories, childcare and sanitation. 

Call the KSB Hotline Monday-Friday, 9-5 at 285-7777 to determine eligibility for testing.