Champaign County healthcare organizations have decided to provide COVID-19 briefings each weekday to the news media. The number of persons diagnosed with COVID-19 in Illinois continues to rise. As of Monday, March 23, 2020, there were three confirmed cases of the disease in Champaign County. No cases have been confirmed in Vermilion County.
Champaign County healthcare organizations say all of us should consider ourselves at risk for exposure to coronavirus. That means everyone should stay home as much as possible and self-monitor for symptoms. Self-monitoring means check yourself daily for fever, cough, shortness of breath or a sore throat.
The healthcare organizations — Carle, OSF Healthcare and Christie Clinic — have plans in place to assess patients virtually before they enter a healthcare facility. Forward triage occurs in various forms at Emergency Departments, Clinics and Convenient Care where patients are screened before they enter a facility potentially exposing others.
The demand for testing currently outweighs supplies. Champaign County Healthcare organizations say they continue to prioritize testing based on state health official guidance. Health officials say if you think you have COVID-19 and your illness is mild, and you are not older or do not have an underlying health condition of concern, you do not need to see your doctor in person or be tested. Reserving testing for those who need it most minimizes possible exposures to healthcare workers, patients and the public and reduces the demand for personal protective equipment which is critically low nationwide.
Carle and Christie Clinic have opened designated COVID-19 testing collection sites for approved patients only. Your healthcare provider will direct patients to call ahead before arriving.
The public can help to address the COVID-19 threat by staying home, giving blood, making a donation or consider making masks for non-clinicians who wish to wear them.
