COVID Death Reported in Coles County

A COVID-related death was reported Monday in Coles County.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported the death was that of a man in his 70s. 

Coles County had 20 new positive cases of coronavirus disease. 

Shelby County reported nine additional positive COVID cases Tuesday. Fayette County reported three new cases. Clay County reported eight new cases. Jasper County reported 10 new cases. 

The Clay County Health Department and the North Clay Community Unit School District 25 in Louisville are reporting the first positive case of COVID-19 on a North Clay bus. The case is not a student of North Clay schools.

The North Clay CUSD 25 COVID Mitigation plan calls for bus riders to have their temperature checked prior to getting on the bus each morning. Fever is one of the most common symptoms among children with COVID-19; however, persons with COVID can shed virus up to 48 hours before symptoms appear. North Clay has taken steps to clean areas of high-touch and reviewed seating charts to identify students that may have been closer than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes. This information has been shared with the health department as part of the contact tracing process. All affected North Clay students and school personnel falling into the category of “close contacts” will be contacted by the health department within a 24-hour period and placed in quarantine for fourteen days. Students and parents that do not receive a call within a 24-hour period have no greater risk of exposure to COVID-19 than the general population.

To reduce risk of contracting COVID, wear a facial covering in public, maintain at least a six-foot distance from others, wash your hands frequently, and stay home if you’re sick. These actions will protect others as well as yourself.

“Overall, North Clay students have done a great job adapting to the COVID rules,” stated Travis Wyatt, Unit 25 Superintendent. “I think they’re just excited to be back at school...we all are.”

Wyatt encourages parents and students to stay the course so schools can remain open. If a student exhibits symptoms, please keep them and their siblings at home. Symptoms include: fever, 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.

For more information on Coronavirus, visit www.dph.illinois.gov/COVID-19 or www.healthdept.org.