IDPH Launches Travel Map
For Guidance on COVID-19 Travel Risk
SPRINGFIELD - (IDPH) - 8/17/2020 - The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today launched its new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) travel map to help inform residents of potential risks associated with traveling during the pandemic. The map indicates countries and U.S. states with increased risk of COVID-19 based on case rates.
"Travel may increase the chance of becoming infected and spreading COVID-19," said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. "To help inform residents where they might be at greater risk of being exposed to COVID-19 when they travel, IDPH has launched a map that clearly shows states and other countries where case rates are elevated. While staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, we know that it may not be possible to avoid all travel. We encourage people who are traveling, whether for work or otherwise, to check out the map before making plans."
Locations that have an average daily case rate of 15 cases per 100,000 or greater are designated as "higher risk" on the map, which can be found here http://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/travel.
Airports, bus stations, train stations, and rest stops are all places travelers can be exposed to the virus in the air and on surfaces. The more people you come into contact with, for longer periods of time, the greater your risk of infection if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Do not travel when you are sick or with someone who is sick. When traveling, it is especially important to wear your mask, to keep 6 feet of distance between you and others you are not traveling with, and wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
When considering travel, think about the destination. It is also important to think about needed precautions for moving through bus, train, or airport terminals, check-in and security lines, as well as the actual bus, train, or plane ride. Remember to take precautions when stopping for gas, food, and bathroom breaks when traveling by car or RV and as you interact with others and frequently touched surfaces.
For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
Illinois Health Officials Announce
2,264 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19
Metro East Trending Close to Hitting Resurgence Metrics
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - 8/14/2020 - The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced 2,264 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 25 additional confirmed death.
- Bureau County: 1 female 80s
- Cook County: 1 female 30s, 2 males 50s, 2 males 60s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
- DeKalb County: 1 female 60s
- DuPage County: 1 male 50s, 1 female 90
- Iroquois County: 1 female 50s
- Madison County: 2 females 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
- Morgan County: 2 females 80s, 1 male 80s
- Sangamon County: 1 female 80s, 1 male 90s
- Will County: 1 female 90s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 202,691 cases, including 7,721 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 49,541 specimens for a total of 3,285,348. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from August 8 - August 14 is 4.1%. As of last night, 1,612 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 345 patients were in the ICU and 126 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH is now reporting 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.
St. Louis Mayor Announces New Measures
Amid COVID-19 Resurgence
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| RP News Photo |
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - 8/12/2020 - St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson announced the implementation of additional public health and safety measures on Aug. 13, 2020 designed to protect the community at large and combat an ongoing resurgence of COVID-19 cases.
In the city of St. Louis and the St. Louis Metropolitan area, there has been a sustained increase in the percentage of the number of people testing positive. The seven-day moving average of COVID-19-related hospital admissions in the region has also increased from less than 20 to more than 40. Additionally, over the last month, individuals in their 20’s and 30’s have represented more than 50 percent of the new positive cases in the City.
“We continue to see an increase in positive cases in the city of St. Louis, particularly among young people who often times show no symptoms. And while they might not always have the underlying health conditions that can land them in the hospital for an extended period of time, they still present a significant risk of infecting others,” Krewson said. “Our intent here is to ensure the maximum number of people and businesses take prudent precautions to reduce the exposure to, and slow the spread of, COVID-19.”
Under Health Commissioner’s Order No. 13, which has been signed by the City’s Acting Director of Health, Dr. Fredrick Echols, the following guidance and standards will be required beginning Thursday, August 13 and remain in effect through September 7:
- Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs shall limit their capacity to 50 percent of their permitted occupancy or less and shall close by 11 p.m.
- Large venues shall reduce their capacity to 50 percent or less of their permitted occupancy and shall continue to comply with the Guidance and Protocols for Cultural Institutions/Destinations & Attractions/Large Venues attached to Order No 9 as Exhibit I.
- All businesses shall encourage employees and volunteers to quarantine or isolate if they have or are believed to have COVID-19 or if they have come into contact with individual(s) with COVID-19. All businesses shall encourage employees and volunteers who have been tested for COVID-19 to self-quarantine until they receive their test results.
- Any business that closed as a result of an enforcement action or to protect the public’s health may conduct activities necessary to perform the following activities: maintain the value of a business’s inventory, provide security, process payroll or employee benefits, or to facilitate employees of the business being able to continue to work remotely provided that such activities do not further endanger the public’s health.
A full copy of Order No. 13 can be found on the City’s COVID-19 website. Order No. 13 does not replace other provisions set forth in Orders 8, 9, and 11, including all attachments, which remain in effect.
Individuals, businesses, and/or entities with questions about these measures should contact RestartStLouis@stlouis-mo.gov.
Officials Announce 1,471 New
Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Illinois
(SPRINGFIELD, Ill) - 8/5/2020 - The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced 1,471 new confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois on Aug. 4, including 19 additional confirmed deaths.
- Adams County: 1 male 70s
- Cook County: 1 teen, 1 female 50s, 1 unknown 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
- DuPage County: 2 males 80s, 1 male 90s
- Iroquois County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 80s
- Mercer County: 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s, 1 male 90s
- Morgan County: 1 male 90s
- Rock Island County: 1 female 70s
- Will County: 1 male 80s
- Winnebago County: 2 female 90s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 184,712 cases, including 7,545 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 42,598 specimens for a total of 2,849,395. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from July 28 - August 3 is 3.9%. As of last night, 1,496 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 365 patients were in the ICU and 125 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IDPH is now reporting 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.
COVID-19 Update for Madison County, Illinois
Source: Madison County Health Department
Source: Madison County Health Department
Murder Still Unsolved
30 Years Later
By Laurel Sexton-Juenger
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| Laurel stands near where the body was found |
(TROY, IL) - 7/27/2020 - The slight granite tombstone sits alone and isolated from the family of other stones in the St. Jerome Catholic Cemetery on Troy O’Fallon Road; just a few yards away from a field of beans. It was the same type of bean field, and just down the same Troy- O’Fallon Road that 30 years ago this past Monday, on July 20 1990, that the mutilated body of a young woman was found dumped and left to decompose in the sweltering Mid-west July sun.
The name on the polished grey stone is JANE DOE as the body was never identified and the murder never solved. The white female was, 25 to 40 years old, 5’4” to 5’6” and weighed 120 to 130 pounds.The victim was stabbed and cut about the neck and torso which was believed to be her cause of death. Authorities estimated at the time that the body was left two or three days prior to the discovery 1/10th of a mile west of Troy O’Fallon Road and 40 feet north of Lebanon Roa
d. The only article found with the body that is mentioned in published reports is a heart shaped turquoise ring.
A notice on the Illinois State Police website encourages anyone with information regarding the identification of the unidentified victim is urged to contact Madison CountySheriff’s Department at 618-692-0871 or call Crimestoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS(8477)
One wonders in this age of DNA identification if this nameless vic tim can one day be identified.
Reprinted with permission
Photos by Laurel Sexton-Juenger
