IL COVID-19 Cases Out of Home Isolation

February 18, 2020

On Saturday, the Chicago Dept. of Public Health (CDPH), Cook County Dept. of Public Health and Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) announced the two Chicago-area patients confirmed as having had coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were released from home isolation.

"Our two Illinois residents with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 have recovered from their illnesses and there has been no further spread of the virus from these two cases," said IDPH Director Ngozi Ezike, M.D. "The risk to the general public remains low and we are continuing to use every tool at our disposal to keep our community safe."

"Based on what is currently known about the virus, and after close consultation with CDC and IDPH, we believe both patients can now safely return to their regular activities, including work, without restrictions," said CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. "They have now had multiple rounds of negative testing for the virus and are clinically well. They do not need to wear masks, and neither does anyone interacting with them. They have been cleared."

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports (as of Feb. 17) 70,635 confirmed cases in China, with 1,772 deaths. Outside China, there are 794 confirmed cases in 25 countries with three deaths. The U.S. has 15 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 392 negative results and 60 pending results. In Illinois, there have been two confirmed cases, 48 negative cases with two pending results.

Additional resources can be found on IHA’s website.