A third person in Illinois has tested positive for COVID-19, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced on Feb. 29.
Officials said that tests from the individual resulted in “presumptive positives,” and the sample is now being tested for confirmation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The patient is currently hospitalized in isolation and health officials are also working to identify and actively monitor anyone who may have come into contact with the person in an effort to reduce the risk of additional transmission.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle confirmed that the case was identified in suburban Cook County.
“A presumptive case of novel coronavirus (2019-CoV) has been identified in suburban Cook County. Final confirmation results from the CDC are pending,” Preckwinkle wrote on Twitter.“I want to assure residents that the Cook County Department of Public Health is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the state public health department as we monitor the situation closely. I will continue to provide you with the most up-to-date information as it becomes available.”
Illinois has had two previously confirmed cases of COVID-19, when a husband and wife were diagnosed with the disease in January. The woman had returned to Illinois on Jan. 13 after traveling to Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak, to care for a relative.Public health officials in Illinois are advising the general public to continue with their daily routines but remain vigilant about preventing germs from spreading by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands with warm water and soap, and staying home when sick.
The news release added that the virus has not been found to be spreading widely in the United States and the risk to the general public remains low.
The individual was a man in his 50s with underlying health conditions, making him a medically high-risk patient, officials said.