Champaign County Public Health confirms first case of COVID-19 in Champaign County

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District announced a Champaign County resident has tested positive for COVID-19.

The woman is a 50-year old female who is in her home in isolation and recovering. She presented to Carle’s emergency department earlier this week. The patient was not admitted, but sent home under the instructions to isolate herself. 

She presented with a fever, cough and shortness of breath. 

CUPHD said that there are a lot of reasons for fever, cough and shortness of breath; not all of them are COVID-19. They mentioned that all healthcare systems are treating a lot of influenza cases at this time.

She had not traveled, but been in contact with others who had traveled to Italy.

The CUPHD Administrator Julie Pryde said that investigators will now go back and look at where she’d been, who she had been in contact with after 14 days from the onset of symptoms. Investigators will identify persons that she was with at a distance shorter than six-feet for at least 10 minutes, instruct them to monitor their symptoms and what to do if symptoms arise. 

There are currently 50 COVID-19 tests coming from Champaign County. Pryde said that she expects that there are more cases in Champaign County and over the next week more cases may be confirmed.

The woman will have to pass two COVID-19 tests prior to being released.

Most people have no immunity to COVID-19 because it is a new, or novel, virus. Those at greatest risk for COVID-19 complications include those over 60, those with heart disease, diabetes, lung disease or are immuno-compromised. 

Pryde said that those who are at higher risk should take precautions such as stockpiling supplies and medications, limiting travel and crowds. 

“We have no idea how many cases we have circulating, we probably have a lot of them,” Pryde said.

Healthcare professionals want people to go to their websites and to call the doctor prior to coming into a facility to get tested. They will instruct those who are ill on what to do. 

Pryde said that what the health care system is trying to “flatten the curve” at this time to not overtax the system. 

She said that if there is a spike of illnesses, the healthcare system would not have enough beds or equipment to treat everyone who would need it. Pryde said that for the majority of people, the symptoms for COVID-19 are mild, but for others they can result in death. 

Pryde said that this is the third pandemic she has been through, and she believes that Champaign County will handle it well.

“Champaign County has practiced and prepared for this for years and years.”

She believes that while there will potentially be places that experience a “horror” situation with handling an influx of COVID-19 cases, Champaign County has the potential to not overtax their system if people work towards “flattening the curve” by practicing social distancing, hand washing and isolation if they are sick.

But healthcare professionals say that is dependent upon the Champaign County population following guidelines set forth by health care professionals. 

They advise that people take action now by:

• Staying home when you are sick;
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue;
• Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
• Clean frequently touched surfaces;
• Avoid close contact and practice social distancing (3-feet from well people and 6-feet from ill people);
• Create a separate room for a household member who is sick;
• Use a face mask at home or in public for sick persons;
• Postpone or cancel attendance at large events.

They are also encouraging people to stay home as much as possible. 

“That’s how we are going to stop the virus and keep from overtaxing our healthcare system,” Pryde said. 

“One person can infect hundreds,” she said.  

Pryde added that a pandemic can last 12 months, or even longer.

She expects stores and gas stations to remain open, but said that Gov. JB Pritzker’s mandate to close all restaurants and bars, with the exception of delivery and curb-side pickup, on Monday is a good decision. She hopes that the ingenuity of all food service establishments will prompt new ideas on how to continue to serve people. 

Pryde said that people will continue to gather unless they are instructed not to. 

“If people are not made to do something, they are not going to do it,” she said. 

Pryde added that social distancing does not mean that the public is quarantined to their house, but rather that they should not gather in places where the virus can spread. She said that Champaign County has a public park system that is robust that can continue to be utilized in small groups.