CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Cook County Department of Public Health announced Monday that fourth Illinois patient has tested positive for coronavirus.
According to health officials, tests conducted in Illinois resulted in presumptive positives for COVID-19. The positive test results will have to be confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The forth case is a woman in her 70s and is the spouse of the third case – a man in his 70s, who is currently hospitalized in isolation, the Illinois Department of Public Health announced Monday.
The man is being treated at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, the hospital said Monday.
Officials said the woman is quarantined at home and is complying with health officials. She and her husband are reported to be in good condition.
Public health officials are working to identify and actively monitor individuals who were in contact with both patients in an effort to prevent additional transmission. Public health officials will reach out to individuals who may have been exposed.
Governor JB Pritzker has requested that hospitals across the state implement additional testing to improve surveillance for COVID-19. Illinois was the first state to provide COVID-19 testing and Gov. Pritzker announced two more IDPH labs in central and southern Illinois that will be able to test specimens this week.
Illinois' previously confirmed two cases of COVID-19 and both patients made a full recovery.
Symptoms reported among patients have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. According to health officials, right now, the virus has not been found to be spreading widely in the U.S., and the risk to the general public remains low. Public health officials are encouraging the public to not alter their daily routines and remain vigilant about keeping germs from spreading, by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands with warm soap and water, and staying home when sick.
Further details were not immediately released about the two patients, but a doctor will provide more information about the case at a news conference Monday afternoon near the hospital's Central Road campus.
The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed 43 cases of coronavirus in the U.S. since the disease broke out in Wuhan, China in late 2019.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
