LEE COUNTY — As we continue through Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois plan, we remind residents that when in public and unable to maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet, please wear a mask or face covering.  Some residents may not feel a risk to themselves, but people can be carriers of the virus and spread it to others even if they show no symptoms.  Think of wearing a mask or face covering as a way to protect others; some of whom may be vulnerable due to their age or an underlying health condition.

On June 8, IDPH announced that a pet cat recently tested positive for COVID-19 after becoming sick in mid-May. The cat was in a home with people who had tested positive. This is the first animal to test positive for the virus in Illinois. There is no evidence COVID-19 is transmitted from animal to humans. However, if you are sick, you should distance yourself from pets as well as people.

Restoring Illinois-Protecting Our Communities Frequently Asked Questions are at this link:

http://www.dph.illinois.gov/restore/restore-faqs

Community Recovery Order Frequently Asked Questions are at this link:

https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/community-recovery-faq#aq0About%20the%20Order

Food service Frequently Asked Questions are at this link:

https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/food-service-faqs#a0

What to do if you think you have COVID-19:

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: 

• Use the “KSB Care Anywhere” virtual care app (https://ksbhospital.zipnosis.com/) for a free 5 question screening in order to help differentiate your symptoms between the virus and other seasonal maladies. While a credit card is required for a more involved assessment, no charges will be applied if a COVID-19 testing referral is made.
• KSB is offering a Coronavirus HOTLINE, by which symptoms can be evaluated against federal screening guidelines, and if appropriate, a referral is made to their Drive-Thru Screening site. The screening site is available ONLY through the hotline and between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm on weekdays by calling 815-285-7777.
• Residents with a Primary Care Practitioner can also CALL their office for advice. Again, CALL FIRST before going to the office.

Testing Criteria:

Individuals may be tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms (cough, shortness of breath and fever) OR

have a risk factor, such as contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19, a compromised immune system or a serious chronic medical condition.

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.

For additional information on COVID-19:

Go to LCHD, KSB, IDPH, or CDC websites.  Lee County Health Department provides regular updates on its Facebook page.

• https://www.lchd.com
• https://www.ksbhospital.com/coronavirus-outbreak-covid-19/
• http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• Facebook: Lee County IL Health Department

For general questions about COVID-19, call the IDPH hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or 211.