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Third COVID-19 Outbreak in McDonough County

Rich Egger

Thursday was the third consecutive day the McDonough County Health Department (MCHD) reported an outbreak of COVID-19 at a care facility.

The latest outbreak is at Heartland Health Care Center:

  • One confirmed case of a person with the virus 
  • Others at the facility report they are ill with symptoms

That fits the state’s definition for an outbreak at a long-term care facility.
The earlier outbreaks this week were at The Lamoine assisted living facility and at a Mosaic residential facility.

The health department said the county now has 18 confirmed cases of the virus. It said three of the people have recovered.

Four more cases were confirmed Thursday: two women in their 20s, one man in his 20s, and one woman in her 70s.

The MCHD said COVID-19 patients have reported the following symptoms:

  • Mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing
  • Chills and repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Loss of sense of taste and/or smell

The health department said anyone experiencing unmanageable symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath should call their primary health care provider or McDonough District Hospital’s nurse telephone hotline at 309-836-1715. The hotline operates from 7:00 a.m.to 7:00 p.m. seven days a week.
The MCHD also continued urging people to follow guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent and the Illinois Department of Public Health:

  • Wear cloth face masks when in public
  • Maintain social distancing
  • Abide by the state’s stay-at-home order

This story was produced by Tri States Public Radio.  TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.

Rich is TSPR's News Director.