First new coronavirus cases reported outside Cook County

Community transmission of the new coronavirus has likely begun in Illinois, health officials said Tuesday after eight additional cases were confirmed, including the first two outside of Cook County.

The total number of Illinois cases is now up to 19. The two cases outside of Cook County include a Kane County woman in her 60s and a McHenry County resident in their teens. Four of the new cases involve Cook County residents in their 40s, 60s and 70s. Two cases were Chicago residents in their 40s.

Officials said all eight new patients are being treated and are in stable condition.

An investigation is underway on how each of the patients may have come into contact with the disease, Gov. JB Pritzker said during a press conference Tuesday. He noted the two patients outside of Cook County are not healthcare workers, have not had close contact with any known person with the disease nor traveled to an affected area.

“Each (case) likely reflects community transmission of the virus,” Pritzker said.

Officials said they are developing a response to the growing number of cases. Along with placing visitor restrictions at nursing homes, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the state’s public health director, said residents may have to begin preparing for the possibility that they may not be able to go to work, schools may be closed and public transportation may not be available.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday Chicago’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parades, slated for Saturday, are being postponed to a later date.

A total of 326 Illinoisans have been tested for coronavirus as of Tuesday, including the 19 confirmed cases. Of those, 244 came back negative and another 63 are pending results.

Pritzker raised concern Tuesday with what he described as a lack of coordination among federal officials in their response to the disease. He said the state has been unable to provide coronavirus tests to all those who show symptoms or request testing due to the federal government’s inability to provide test kits.

Promises made by the federal government to open commercial labs in Illinois have also not been kept, Pritzker said.

“We’ve been told now for days and days and days… that there are commercial labs that would be coming online,” he said. “I was just told today commercial labs would be coming online within days. Once again, I’ve been told the same thing again. We haven’t seen it.”

Pritzker and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle issued disaster proclamations this week, unlocking additional funding and resources to fight the respiratory disease.

It was also announced Monday that patients can get tested at 15 hospitals across the state. And the state’s largest insurers – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Cigna – have agreed to waive costs for the testing. Medicaid and Medicare are also covering testing costs.

The CDC reported 647 confirmed and presumptive positive cases of the disease as of Tuesday.

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