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“HENRY & STARK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ANNOUNCE DAILY POSITIVE COVID-19 CUMULATIVE CASES ”

     The Henry and Stark County Health Department today, Thursday, February 25th announce a cumulative total of 4319 “Confirmed Positive” and “Probable” Cases of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Henry County and 537 “Confirmed Positive” and “Probable” Cases in Stark County.

     The Health Department notes, “Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, beginning November 6, 2020 and going forward, IDPH will report confirmed cases and probable cases combined. A confirmed case is laboratory confirmed via molecular test. A probable case meets clinical criteria AND is epidemiologically linked, or has a positive antigen test. If a probable case is later confirmed, the case will be deduplicated and will only be counted once. Probable deaths and confirmed deaths will continue to be reported separately.”

     The Health Department notes as we learn more about how the virus is spread throughout our county, state, and nation our reporting mechanisms will change and be tweaked in order to give people a better understanding.  By combining the positive by test and probable cases, we now have a greater understanding and more accurate knowledge of the covid-19 virus’ reach and effect in our communities.

     Public health officials are working actively to identify and investigate all individuals who were in contact with the cases. Federal privacy restrictions prohibit the release of further information regarding the investigations.

     The Health Department notes with expected additional cases coming, residents need to assume that they have been exposed to COVID-19. For a reference of the most current status of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the State please visit the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Covid-19 webpage at

http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR2wPx79OnrI6FPlmjF7pg8KEcK5FdHrxs4OgncAYdwbUoWPyQGHc-j2Te4


 
 
 
 
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3RD IDPH UPDATE "Public Health Officials Announce 2,104 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease" SPRINGFIELD- The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 2,104 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID- 19) in Illinois, including 44 additional deaths. 

 
 
Covid Self Assessment Tool

 
 
 

“What is a Probable Case of Covid-19?”

 

PROBABLE COVID CASES – “Definitions and Educations”

 

We now track Covid cases as a combination or “Confirmed Positive & Probable Cases.”

 

To help define and encourage better understanding here’s some clarification:

 

It may be deemed that a person is “Probable” (e.g. clinically diagnosed for COVID-19 or epidemiologically linked) if they came in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 and was determined to be high risk during the disease investigation, AND they became symptomatic in the two weeks after.

 

However, just because one person in your household tests positive that does not mean everyone is counted as a positive/probable case. The other people that live in the same household that were within six feet for 15 minutes or more of cumulative time within 24 hours will be listed as a contact and will do a daily health assessment. If they became symptomatic it’s only then they will be considered a “probable case.”

 

Most of the time, a "probable case" in our County is what we classify as a person who received a positive rapid test. These tests are so much more accurate today. Most hospitals and clinics now rely on them almost exclusively for a symptomatic person. Again, we will list a person who has symptoms and has documented direct contact with a person who has tested positive as a probable. More times than not, this is another member of the same household. This is done to prevent them from having to further burden the healthcare system to receive a test that will most likely come back positive since they are sharing a household with a confirmed case, and have COVID like signs and symptoms.

 

Finally, if a probable case is later “confirmed (by standard PCR Molecular test), the case will be deduplicated and will only be counted once.

 

PROBABLE COVID CASES – “Definitions and Educations”

 

We now track Covid cases as a combination or “Confirmed Positive & Probable Cases.”

 

To help define and encourage better understanding here’s some clarification:

 

It may be deemed that a person is “Probable” (e.g. clinically diagnosed for COVID-19 or epidemiologically linked) if they came in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 and was determined to be high risk during the disease investigation, AND they became symptomatic in the two weeks after.

 

However, just because one person in your household tests positive that does not mean everyone is counted as a positive/probable case. The other people that live in the same household that were within six feet for 15 minutes or more of cumulative time within 24 hours will be listed as a contact and will do a daily health assessment. If they became symptomatic it’s only then they will be considered a “probable case.”

 

Most of the time, a "probable case" in our County is what we classify as a person who received a positive rapid test. These tests are so much more accurate today. Most hospitals and clinics now rely on them almost exclusively for a symptomatic person. Again, we will list a person who has symptoms and has documented direct contact with a person who has tested positive as a probable. More times than not, this is another member of the same household. This is done to prevent them from having to further burden the healthcare system to receive a test that will most likely come back positive since they are sharing a household with a confirmed case, and have COVID like signs and symptoms.

 

Finally, if a probable case is later “confirmed (by standard PCR Molecular test), the case will be deduplicated and will only be counted once.


 
 

“HENRY & STARK COUNTY RELEASES WEEKLY DATA ON CONFIRMED POSITIVE & PROBABLE COVID-19 CASES”

   The Henry and Stark County Health Departments announce they have a cumulative total of 4304 “Confirmed Positive” and “Probable” Cases of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Henry County and 535 “Confirmed Positive” and “Probable” Cases in Stark County. The Department is now releasing its weekly “current data” on confirmed positive and probable cases:

          Henry County Cumulative Confirmed Positive and Probable Covid-19 Cases:  *4304

          Henry County Current Active Cases: *33

          Henry County Deaths: *54

 

          Stark County Cumulative Confirmed Positive and Probable Covid-19 Cases:  *535

          Stark County Current Active Cases: *5

          Stark County Deaths: *22

 

          Henry & Stark County Cumulative Confirmed Positive & Probable Covid-19 Cases:

*4839

 

Henry & Stark County Current Active Covid-19 Cases: *38

 

 

    *Based On Confirmed Positive and Probable Covid-19 Cases As Of 2-23-21, Cumulative & Current Totals.

 

     The Health Department notes, “Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, beginning November 6, 2020 and going forward, IDPH will report confirmed cases and probable cases combined. A confirmed case is laboratory confirmed via molecular test. A probable case meets clinical criteria AND is epidemiologically linked, or has a positive antigen test. If a probable case is later confirmed, the case will be deduplicated and will only be counted once. Probable deaths and confirmed deaths will continue to be reported separately.”

     The Health Department notes as we learn more about how the virus is spread throughout our county, state, and nation our reporting mechanisms will change and be tweaked in order to give people a better understanding.  By combining the positive by test and probable cases, we now have a greater understanding and more accurate knowledge of the covid-19 virus’ reach and effect in our communities.

 

     The Health Department releases this recovery information on confirmed positive and probable cases in Henry and Stark Counties on a weekly basis. 

     The Health Department is continuing to release information to urge local residents to remain cautious and vigilant when it comes to community mitigation efforts: to limit infection risks whenever possible; wear a face covering when in public places; observe social distancing of at least 6 feet; cover coughs and wash hands frequently.   

     The Henry County Health Department has announced multiple confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Henry County. Public health officials are working actively to identify and investigate all individuals who were in contact with the cases. Federal privacy restrictions prohibit the release of further information regarding the investigations.

     The Health Department notes with expected additional cases coming, residents need to assume that they have been exposed to COVID-19. For a reference of the most current status of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the State please visit the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Covid-19 webpage at  

http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR2gQM_mTy_OnMDVIrGoGixISiHxUkzij-wa1G7Z0rtC6nX8u2l6DDy_mvQ

 


 
 
 
 
 

CONTACT TRACING SUPPORT STAFF WANTED!

The Henry and Stark County Health Department is hiring several temporary Part-Time Contact Tracing Support Staff to support Illinois Public Health’s efforts performing COVID-19 Contact Tracing. Please follow the directions on the photos for application and resume submission.


"HEALTH DEPARTMENT ASKS FOR COOPERATION WITH COVID-19 CONTRACT TRACING CALLS”

 

Release:

 

     The Henry and Stark County Health Departments are asking for local residents to support and cooperate with the Health Department Covid-19 contact tracing activities.

    

     The Health Department notes that, in general, contact tracing involves identifying people who have an infectious disease (cases) and people who they came in contact with (contacts) and working with them to interrupt disease spread. This includes asking people with COVID-19 to isolate and their contacts to quarantine at home voluntarily.

Contact tracing for COVID-19 typically involves.

  • Interviewing people with COVID-19 to identify everyone they had close contact with during the time they may have been infectious.
  • Notifying contacts of their potential exposure.
  • Referring contacts for testing.
  • Monitoring contacts for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

 

     Sandy Sommer, RN Director of Clinical Services with the Health Department notes, “If you receive a call from a local health department trying to conduct contact tracing, PLEASE BE HONEST when answering their questions.” 

 

     Sommer adds, “Whether you have tested positive for COVID-19 yourself or you're the close contact of a confirmed case, it is essential that everyone be open & honest in helping contact tracers conduct their investigations. This is not a process meant to penalize or harm people. It is meant to help keep individuals and local businesses healthy & safe and allows us to track & contain the spread of COVID-19.”

 

      The staff of the Health Department reminds area residents, “We're all on the same team - Let's work together” to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  In addition, continue to follow and practice the directives of: *Using Good Sense by Limiting Risks for Infection; *Wearing Face Coverings and Masks While In Public Places; *Conducting Social Distancing of at least 6ft.; *Covering Coughs; and *Washing Your Hands Often!

 

     For more local information on the local response to the Covid-19 pandemic “Like” us on Facebook or “Follow” us on Twitter or visit the Health Department’s website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.


Henry County Health Department
110 N. Burr Blvd.
Kewanee, IL 61443
309-852-0197

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