Five New COVID-19 Cases Reported in Effingham County Monday

Effingham County Health Department received notice Monday of five new positive cases of Coronavirus Disease.

Two males in their 50s and one female in her 60s have had no known contact with a COVID case. A female in her 80s and a male in his 80s have had contact with persons testing positive for COVID-19. Health Department officials report all five are doing well in isolation.

 Citizens are strongly urged to take steps to minimize risk of contracting COVID-19 by wearing a face covering, washing your hands frequently, maintaining a distance of at least six feet, and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. These precautions should be taken at all times, even if you are traveling. Also, as we see an increase in the number of cases within the community, it is important to monitor yourself for COVID symptoms. These symptoms include: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea. If you are exhibiting any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider for further guidance.

Testing is available in the Effingham community for individuals exhibiting symptoms of COVID and for individuals who may not have symptoms but feel they may be at increased risk for contracting COVID disease. Remember, persons may not always exhibit symptoms, and disease spread can be reduced by having early diagnosis and practicing isolation. For information on how to obtain testing, contact the Effingham County Health Department at 217-342-9237 or your healthcare provider.

The public is asked to follow and share trusted sources of information on COVID-19. Follow the CDC, IDPH and ECHD websites for such trusted information.

Statewide, 614 new cases of COVID-19 were repoted statewide Monday by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

There were just six COVID-related deaths statewide in the 24-hour period ending at 2pm Monday. There were two in Champaign County, three in Cook County, and one in DeKalb County.

The percentage of positive cases of COVID-19 in the past seven days statewide as a percentage of total tests taken was 2.6%. Just over 21,000 specimens were collected in the 24-hour period.