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CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- As Vaughn Occupational High School undergoes a deep clean while students and staff are under quarantine, we could learn Monday if any more of them test positive for coronavirus.
The mother of a Vaughn student tells WBBM Newsradio he was tested right from her car on Sunday, as they pulled up to the school after a special education classroom aide tested positive last week for the coronavirus. She expects to learn Monday or Tuesday if her son is positive.
Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said the state's three labs continue to process tests.
"Patients who are seriously ill with respiratory viruses and hospitalized, who have negative influenza testing and negative testing for other viruses, can also be tested for coronavirus at the IDPH lab.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has around 2,200 testing kits, and after a nasal or oral swab, tests take about five hours each to run.
“We have three IDPH laboratories in Chicago, Springfield, and Carbondale that are all able to test for the virus,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.
If the results come back positive, the specimens will then be sent to the CDC for another round of testing to confirm the results. Meanwhile, health officials were still in the process of reaching out to everyone Sunday at Vaughn Occupational High School, 4355 N Linder Ave., in Portage Park, though that process was expected to be complete by the end of the day.
Classes have been canceled until March 18 for more than 200 students at the school. Anyone who was at the school is being asked to stay home for the 14 days it's believed that the coronavirus incubates. Arwady said the school is undergoing a deep-clean now and that all Chicago Public Schools will undergo an increased protocol for cleaning beginning Monday.
Arwady and Ezike also announced Sunday that a seventh positive case of coronavirus had been discovered in Illinois.
The patient is a man in his 60s, who's in the hospital in critical condition. Arwady said the man hasn't traveled, but couldn't confirm how and from where he contracted the illness. She said his case may be a community transmission not related to an already confirmed case.
"My team is literally doing interviews today in working to make sure we understand and if it's still possible, we can still link it to a confirmed case," she said.
She added that with the seventh case, that the department came forward so quickly in the name of transparency.
Arwardy said she expects they'll continue to find new cases of the coronavirus in Chicago and Illinois. Because of this, she stressed the importance of people increasing their sanitization practices and asked individuals who are exhibiting symptoms to stay out of contact with others. In other words, if someone has a respiratory illness or is experiencing a fever or cough, they should stay at home from school and work. She also suggested people with those symptoms limit their travel and avoid large gatherings.
At this point, local health officials aren't recommending the city cancels mass gatherings like concerts and parades, but encourage businesses to review their practices regarding telecommuting and sanitization.
Five other cases of COVID-19 have also been diagnosed in the area.