IDPH reports hundreds of new Grundy COVID cases

A resurgence of COVID-19 is impacting Grundy County, and the county’s only hospital says it has witnessed a 400% increase in coronavirus admissions since the beginning of the month.
Morris Hospital announced last week it was nearing capacity as COVID-19 hospitalizations were increasing. Mark Steadham, the hospital’s president and CEO, reported the facility had 80 inpatients as of Nov. 17 and half had COVID-19.
“The situation is very serious and well beyond anything we experienced last spring,” Steadham said in a Nov. 18 press release.
As of Nov. 20, the Illinois Department of Public Health [IDPH] reported the county’s seven day rolling positivity rate was at 23.4%, the highest of the 20 counties that make up the North Central Region [Region 2].
In its weekly update, published last Friday, the Grundy County Health Department reported the total number of positive cases had reached 1,869, on Tuesday afternoon the IDPH had the total case count at 2,539 cases—a 35.8% increase in under five days.
As of its report, the local health department was following 391 people how had recently tested positive and are in isolation, as well as their close contacts.
Grundy County’s public health administrator Michelle Pruim reports the health department is continuing its efforts to talk to individuals who have tested positive and their close contacts within 24 hours of lab notification. However, residents often learn of their lab results before the health department.
“Residents are encouraged to follow isolation and quarantine guidelines even before hearing from the health department,” Pruim said.
Per CDC guidelines, persons awaiting test results should isolate and close contacts should quarantine for 14 days since their last encounter with a sick individual.
Grundy County is among the 101 counties in the orange warning level, just one was downstate county was shown in the blue based on COVID data from Nov. . 8-14. During that time period, Grundy County was at warning level in three of eight metrics used by the state to determine if their are warning signs of increased virus activity. At that time the county’s ICU bed availability was within target limits at 31.8%. Data from last week is due to be released this Friday.
The health department website has recently been updated to include resources related to data, guidance, symptoms and testing. Updated information can also be viewed on the IDPH website.
In it’s daily report published Tuedsay, IDPH reported five virus related deaths in the county—one male in his 60s, two females and one male in their 80s and a male in his 90s. The newly reported deaths bring the total number of deaths to 16 since the start of the pandemic.
To help slow the spread of the virus, state and local officials continue to encourage residents to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth, maintain a six-foot distance from others, wash hands frequently, and stay home when if possible.
Testing is available throughout the county, and protocol at each location is subject to change based on available resources.
In its Nov. 18 release, Morris Hospital reported its testing capabilities have significantly diminished in the past two weeks due to a supply shortage. The existing supply of rapid tests is being reserved for admitted patients, all other specimens are sent out with results typically being received within 2-5 days.
IDPH offers daily testing from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mission Boulevard Soccer Complex, 640 Mission Blvd., Joliet. Testing sites open every day for everyone regardless of symptoms, and additional sites closest to our reading area including Aurora and Bloomington.
The Aurora location, 2450 N. Farnsworth Ave., is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. while daily supplies last. Located at 1106 Interstate Dr., the Bloomington site is open daily while supplies last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
IDPH testing sites will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Testing will also be available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28 at Minooka Community High School South Campus, 26655 W. Eames St., Channahon. Testing will be provided on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last.
IDPH in conjunction with the Grundy County Health Department will host a drive-thru testing site in the parking lot of Coal City High School on Sunday, Dec. 6 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
As of Monday, the IDPH data base was reporting Grundy’s total case count includes 501 cases in the 60416 zip code, 1,045 within the 60450 zip code, 74 cases from the Mazon area, 59 from the Braceville/Godley area, 93 from Gardner, 29 within South Wilmington and 18 from Verona’s 60479 zip code.