CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has anounced that the CDC is reporting 20 counties in the state are at a Medium Community Level for COVID-19, compared to 19 last week.
Randolph County is at a low community level according to the CDC.
There were no counties listed at High Community Level for the second straight week.
IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra also announced that SIU Medicine in partnership with IDPH is offering a new telehealth test to treat service for COVID-19. The service is aimed at providing faster and easier access to treatment for Illinoisans who contract COVID-19.
Those who test positive are encouraged to call 217-545-5100 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays to schedule a telehealth appointment to determine if medical treatment is recommended.
Appointments will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.
IDPH has recorded a total of 4,062,200 cases and 36,334 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois since the beginning of the pandemic. The department is reporting 11,248 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois in the week ending February 19, and 37 deaths.
“We are happy to report that COVID-19 community levels continue to remain stable this week,” Director Vohra said. “However, we know that the virus is still circulating with the potential to cause serious illness, especially to those most at-risk. It is critical for those individuals to have quick and easy access to medical providers to determine if COVID-19 treatment is recommended. We are grateful to offer this new telehealth test to treat service to help protect our residents across Illinois.”
Options for obtaining tests and treatments can also be found at the following test to treat site or by contacting your provider for treatment options, within 5 days of feeling ill. IDPH is helping Illinoisans stay prepared for any future surge of COVID-19 cases by offering 1 million free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to Illinois residents in all zip codes outside the City of Chicago through a partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation’s public charity, RF Catalytic Capital and its Project ACT (Access COVID Tests) program.