Three cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday

On a day that another coronavirus case was reported in the county, another shipment of supplies to help prevent the spread of the disease arrived.

The Fayette County Health Department reported on Monday morning that there was a third case of coronavirus in Fayette County.
Since late last week, the health department’s daily testing reports were:
• Thursday – 23 negative, 8 pending, 2 positive.
• Friday – 25 negative, 6 pending, 2 positive.
• Saturday – 31 negative, 9 pending, 2 positive.
• Sunday – 34 negative, 9 pending, 2 positive.
• Monday – 47 negative, 3 pending, 3 positive.
• Tuesday – 49 negative, 2 pending, 3 positive.
In releasing the results, FCHD officials clarify that those numbers reflect all state-approved tests and any known private laboratory testing.
Kendra Craig, a health department employee who is also the county’s Emergency Management Agency coordinator, said on Monday the number of tests performed would be increasing.
She said she had been notified earlier in the day that the Illinois Department of Public Health announced that anyone who is exhibiting symptoms is going to be tested.
Still, the guidelines for possible coronavirus cases remain in place. Anyone having symptoms still is asked to first contact his or her personal physician, and not just show up at a doctor’s office or hospital emergency room.
A physician will determine whether that individual simply needs to be quarantined at home or should be tested.
To date, Fayette County has received all of the personal protective equipment – such as gowns, gloves, goggles and masks – that it has needed.
“Everybody who needs them has gotten them – police departments, fire departments, coroner, long-term care facilities, hospital, assisted-living homes and FAYCO,” Craig said.
Monday’s shipment was the sixth received in the county, three for the health department and three for EMA.
That latest shipment included “go kits,” a packet containing goggles, gowns, gloves and masks.
Those not having any of those kits will continue using the supplies that have been handed out piecemeal.
“I wasn’t expecting this shipment at all,” Craig said, thankful that the county is receiving all it needs from the Strategic National Stockpile.
With this latest delivery, as with all others, Craig notifies all of facilities and first responders of the delivery, in the event they need more supplies.
That delivery meant that the county could start to stockpile supplies, then distribute them as needed.
Craig said she believes that Fayette County residents are, for the most part, responding to the request from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to stay at home as much as possible.
“People seem like they are pretty much self-isolated,” Craig said.
“It’s definitely getting better,” she said. “You don’t really see that many people out.”
 

Showing some of the personal protective equipment received for Fayette County are: Kendra Craig, Fayette County Health Department employee and Emergency Management coordinato