LEE COUNTY — The outbreak of COVID-19 cases at the Jack Mabley Center in Dixon has generated a harsh community response. The Lee County Unified Command Team wants our community to know that the men and women at the Jack Mabley center are HEROES. These public servants are risking their health and potentially the health of their families to serve those with profound developmental disabilities. The Mabley Team cares deeply about their residents. This is very meaningful work. 

The staff at the Jack Mabley Center have displayed incredible service and have worked cooperatively with the unified command team while implementing best practices in line with the CDC and the IDPH. 

Lee County Health Department Administrator Cathy Ferguson-Allen said, “The outbreak at the Jack Mabley Center displays how contagious this virus really is and demonstrates the impact seen at congregate living facilities all across our country.” 

City Manager Danny Langloss added, “As a community we must rise and support the incredible people working at this facility. They are true heroes.  Many of these staff members are working double shifts multiple times a week to ensure the safety of those they serve.” 

Over the past week, restaurants have refused delivery service to the facility. 

CEO David Schreiner of KSB Hospital said, “We need to show the same type of support to these heroes, as we have our health care heroes here at KSB and our front-line emergency responders.  As a community, it is time for us to answer the call.” 

Later this week, KSB will be providing meals for workers at the facility. 

Ferguson-Allen added, “Measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of delivery services.  Deliveries can be left at the facility with no person to person contact.” 

Please join us on social media in supporting the team at the Jack Mabley Center.  Let us all show them how much we appreciate the great work they are doing for those suffering from profound developmental disabilities.

The Unified Executive Leadership Team is announcing a new schedule for media releases. Full releases will be sent on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. An update on state and local numbers in graphic form will be sent out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Weekend releases will be provided when there are additional positive reports in Lee County.

Current Testing Criteria:

The Illinois Department of Public Health has expanded testing guidelines.  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.

Other 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.

What to do if you think you have COVID-19: (UPDATED INFORMATION)

During the current Corona Virus outbreak, 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.

Residents can go to the following websites for additional information:

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

• 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
• For businesses: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html
• Facebook: Lee County IL Health Department

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