State now has 66 coronavirus cases after public health officials announce 2 positive cases downstate

A woman in her 60s living in a long-term care facility in DuPage County is one of seven new cases of COVID-19 in the suburbs.

It's among 18 new confirmed cases in Illinois' overall, health officials said Saturday. Later, officials announced two positive coronavirus cases in downstate Sangamon County, bringing the state's total 66.

That DuPage location was “locked down to outside visitors,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in an afternoon press briefing, and state and local officials are identifying others there who might be at risk of contracting the virus.

“From what we've seen of this virus so far, older adults do tend to suffer more severe illness, and that's why our focus will be on these populations,” said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois' Department of Public Health. “Younger adults and children may have only mild illness, but if they attend larger events or come in contact with vulnerable populations, ... that could cause spread of the virus. It will take all of us working together to help reduce the spread of this virus.”

The first novel coronavirus cases in central and southern Illinois also were confirmed Saturday, indicating the outbreak now spans eight counties.

Pritzker's message at the news briefing was clear: Stay home.

“Once again, no matter how healthy you feel, if you can, stay home. If you are able to telework, do so. If you don't have to travel, don't,” he said. “This isn't forever. This is a sacrifice in the short term. ... Every action that we take to control the spread of this virus and prevent our medical infrastructure from dealing with too many cases at once is an action that saves lives.”

In addition to new cases in the metropolitan area — seven in Chicago, four in suburban Cook County, one in DuPage County, one in Kane County and one in Lake County — the Illinois Department of Public Health announced 4 cases in other geographic regions in addition to the two new cases in Sangamon County.

Two women, one in her 60s and one in her 70s, were diagnosed in St. Clair County in the metro-east area.

One man in his 70s tested positive in Cumberland County in southeast Illinois, as did one man in his 70s in Woodford County in central Illinois.

Late Saturday, the Rosemont Health and Fitness Club announced it had learned that a 73-year-old man who had used the club has been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. The member had been in Egypt on a river cruise before returning the fitness club.

The club was shut down and will remain closed until March 30. During this hiatus, the village's health department will oversee a deep cleaning of the entire facility.

It was unclear if this case is among those that have been confirmed in the state report.

There have been no deaths in Illinois related to COVID-19, she added. A number of the earliest diagnoses have made a full recovery.

State health officials warned those with heart disease, lung disease, weakened immune systems, cancer patients, elderly people and pregnant women are at the highest risk.

Of the 64 cases in Illinois, about one-third contracted the virus from travel, another third were sickened from being in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 and the remaining cases could be from community spread, Ezike said.

Pritzker's call for residents to practice social distancing measures comes after he ordered all public and private schools to close for two weeks — from Tuesday, March 17, through Tuesday, March 31. He also banned any events with more than 1,000 people and urged those hosting events of 250 people or more to cancel them.

When asked if he would consider additional public health and safety mandates, Pritzker said his administration is “always looking at all the options,” but did not have any immediate plans.

“Counties and cities can make further restrictions if they choose,” Pritkzer added.

Tuesday is Illinois' primary election, and state officials encouraged voters to cast their ballot by mail, submit it with the county clerk's office or in person at an early-voting site. Polls will be open Tuesday as well.

“Stay well, stay safe, stay calm. It's not a time for panic,” Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, said. “It's a time for listening to the advice and learning more to make sure you're sharing good information.”

State officials strongly encouraged any Illinoisan who thinks they might have COVID-19 to call their health care provider as opposed to going to a medical office or the emergency room. Licensed Illinois physicians received guidance from the Public Health Department to analyze a patient's symptoms over the phone and make a determination about whether that person should be screened in person.

Those with mild symptoms most likely do not need a coronavirus test, Ezike said. Instead, they will typically be asked to isolate themselves at home.

As of Friday, labs overseen by her department processed about 1,600 tests, representing more than 800 patients. Ezika warned that as commercial laboratories are able to handle tests, “we could see a dramatic increase of positives over the coming days and weeks.”

Pritkzer on Saturday also announced his administration planned to ask the federal government for permission to expand Medicaid coverage. If approved, Illinois could add new physicians to the program.

For those with general COVID-19 questions, the Department of Public Health maintains a hotline at 1-800-889-3931 and an email address (dph.sick@illinois.gov).