Daily Champaign County Coronavirus Update: March 23, 3 cases confirmed

Champaign, Ill.— Beginning today, Champaign County healthcare organizations will be providing weekday media briefings. The number of persons diagnosed with COVID-19 in Illinois continues to rise.

As of today, there are three confirmed cases in Champaign County. Community transmission is occurring in multiple locations throughout the state. All of us should consider ourselves at risk for exposure to
coronavirus. That means that everyone should stay home as much as possible and self-monitor for symptoms. Self-monitoring means checking yourself daily for fever, cough, shortness of breath or a sore throat. Health officials do not indicate testing for mildly ill or asymptomatic people.

Screening
Our organizations have plans in place to assess patients virtually before they enter a healthcare facility.

Forward triaging in various forms at Emergency Departments, Clinics and Convenient Cares are screening patients before they enter a facility potentially exposing others. While these vary in appearance, they all reduce the spread of infection to others.

Testing
The demand outweighs current testing supplies. We continue to prioritize testing based on state health official guidance. Health officials do not recommend testing for mildly ill or asymptomatic people.
• A positive test for a mildly ill, otherwise healthy person will not change how your doctor will care for you but will protect others.
• If think you have COVID-19 and your illness is mild, and you are not older or do not have an underlying health condition of concern, you do not need to see your doctor in person and you do not need to be tested.
• Reserving testing for those who need it most minimizes possible exposures to healthcare workers, patients and the public and reduces the demand for personal protective equipment which is critically low nationwide.
• Carle and Christie Clinic have opened designated COVID-19 testing collection site for approved patients only. Your healthcare provider will direct patients to call ahead before arriving at locations.

Healthcare organization preparedness actions

Our organizations are ready: we know how to properly isolate patients. We treat patients with a variety of infectious diseases on a daily basis in appropriate spaces by trained staff.
• We’re providing enhanced training on the appropriate use of personal protective equipment and working to conserve our supplies.
• While COVID-19 is new, preparing for responses to disasters, including potential epidemics and pandemics (e.g., H1N1, Swine Flu, Ebola), is not.
• We continually conduct education and drills to be prepared as possible for these types of public health emergencies and work together to ensure we have information and supplies.

How can the community help?
There are many ways the community can help to address COVID 19. Stay home, give blood, make a donation and consider making masks for non-clinicians who wish to wear them.

COVID-19 Patient Resources
Carle (217) 902-6100
• Visit carle.org for an online screening tool and patient information about COVID-19. A smart form will guide patients through a series of questions to assess their symptoms and risk and provide guidance on how, where or if a patient should seek care.

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (217) 239-7877
• Email coronavirus@c-uphd.org
• Updated information available at c-uphd.org.
• Follow Champaign-Urbana Public Health District on Facebook for up to date information. Christie (217) 366-4070 (8 am – 5 pm; Monday – Friday)
• Visit christieclinic.com or follow Christie Clinic on social media for the most up to date information on COVID-19.
• Christie Clinic has a drive through testing facility outside the Christie Clinic on Windsor location.
Patients identified through screening to need testing will be directed to this location. Patients need to call ahead before coming to the drive through testing location.
• Specific instructions for our obstetrics patients and Transformations Medical Weight Loss program clients are located at christieclinic.com/news/coronavirus
OSF 833-OSF KNOW (833-673-5669)
• The COVID-19 Nurse Hotline is staffed by OSF registered nurses around the clock, and during times of heavy usage will be staffed by other OSF health care professionals.
• Clare, the virtual assistant chatbot on osfhealthcare.org, is equipped to begin screenings for and educate the public about COVID-19.
• OSF COVID Companion is a free text messaging tool that the public can use to receive guidance about COVID-19. To subscribe, users can text OSF to 67634.