DeWitt/Piatt Testing Update

 9/21/2020 Monday

DeWitt: 2 new cases in Clinton

Piatt: 1 new case in Cerro Gordo

9/22/2020 Tuesday

DeWitt: 3 new cases in Clinton

Piatt: 2 new cases in Mansfield

9/23/2020 Wednesday

DeWitt: 1 new case in Wapella. 1 new case in Waynesville

Piatt: No new cases.

1 male in his 20’s

1 male in his 30’s

1 male in his 40’s

2 females in their 40’s

1 female in her 50’s

1 female in her 60’s

1 female in her 70’s

1 male in his 80’s

1 female in her 80’s

Current Active Cases:

DeWitt: 23

Piatt: 6

Current Hospitalizations:

DeWitt: 3

Piatt: 0

No ICU admissions.

With these additional cases, DeWitt Co has had a total of 115 cases, and Piatt Co has had a total of 139 cases.

DeWitt Co remains on the state WARNING LIST for COVID-19.  Some of the reason for this is related to the numbers of tests processed from area residents and how that affects positivity rates.  DeWitt Co residents test about 2 times less than Piatt Co residents.  A list of testing sites is located here:  https://www.dph.illinois.gov/testing

Please remember to socially distance and wear a mask when in public.  This is a highly CONTAGIOUS disease.

Just a reminder:  The priority of our agency is to engage in rapid contact tracing of local cases and contacts of cases.  This is a best practice measure to limit the spread of infection.  The informational updates we submit are a secondary priority as we commit staff to prevention-oriented tasks of the disease.  We have 12 staff serving 2 counties so please be patient.  We will update the numbers several times each week.  They will be loaded onto our website found at www.dewittpiatthealth.com and our agency Facebook page and sent to area media.

We seem to be getting a number of questions/complaints about masking mandates.  As of August 7, Governor Pritzker issued Emergency Rules through the IL Dept of Public Health to increase the use of face coverings that allowed for a fine on local businesses.  These rules were not adopted legislatively and have no force of law.  In local areas, city and county ordinances could be developed with the effect of law to create a masking mandate, but those steps have not been taken locally.  As a rule, any time a fine is imposed, the business/individual is afforded a right to due process allowing them an opportunity to contest the fine.  This would require the hiring of legal representation and going through a hearing process.

IDPH Update:  9/23/20

Public Health Officials Announce 1,848 New Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus Disease

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 1,848 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 22 additional confirmed deaths.

• Christian County: 1 female 60s
• Cook County: 1 male 60s, 2 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
• Douglas County: 1 male 60s
• Franklin County: 1 male 80s
• Kankakee County: 1 male 80s
• Lake County: 1 male 40s
• Macon County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 80s
• Peoria County: 1 male 70s
• Rock Island County: 1 female 80s, 2 males 80s
• Tazewell County: 1 male 90s
• Will County: 1 male 90s
• Williamson County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s

Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 279,114 cases, including 8,508 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 16 – September 22 is 3.5%.  Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 46,391 specimens for a total of 5,231,607.  As of last night, 1,563 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19.  Of those, 351 patients were in the ICU and 144 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.  For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.