The Illinois Department of Public Health on Friday reported 2,120 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 20 additional confirmed deaths. A DeKalb County infant is among the reported deaths in the most recent numbers from the state health department.
After CDC review, the DeKalb County Health Department confirms the death of an infant younger than one in DeKalb County, who was confirmed positive with COVID-19. The infant was previously reported as a positive case. As with other deaths reported, the identity of the infant is not being released by the health department to protect the privacy of the family.
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 270,327 cases, including 8,411 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from September 11 – September 17 is 3.6%. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 61,918 specimens for a total of 4,982,856. As of last night, 1,481 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 329 patients were in the ICU and 149 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH is now reporting separately both confirmed and probable cases and deaths on its website. Reporting probable cases will help show the potential burden of COVID-19 illness and efficacy of population-based non-pharmaceutical interventions. IDPH will update these data once a week.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. Information for a death previously reported has changed, therefore, today’s numbers have been adjusted. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
In addition to the locations that currently offer testing in DeKalb County, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and DeKalb County Health Department (DCHD) will be sponsoring a free temporary drive-thru and walk-up COVID-19 testing site at the DCHD parking lot located at 2550 N. Annie Glidden Rd. from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the following days:
Saturday, September 19
Sunday, September 20
There is no cost for testing and anyone can be tested. You don’t have to have symptoms or be sick. The test consists of a simple nasal swab. If you have health insurance, we ask that you bring your insurance card; however, all will be tested regardless of healthcare coverage. You will be called (by the testing provider) with your results within 4-7 days.
DCHD will also be distributing Community Kits to each person who is tested. The free community kits include cloth masks, thermometer, tissue, and antibacterial hand wipes.
For additional testing locations, visit the IDPH website at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid-19-testing-sites
For more information about COVID-19, and the latest updates and guidance, please visit the following websites:
• https://health.dekalbcounty.org/coronavirus/
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• https://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus
Community members and agencies can email questions to COVID19@dekalbcounty.org. Please note, this email is not used to provide medical advice. If you have personal medical questions, please contact your healthcare provider. Community members can also sign up for the newsletter online by visiting the DCHD website.