DuPage County logged its first case of COVID-19 on March 15. The first patient was an elderly resident of a local long-term care facility. That facility in Willowbrook now accounts for 46 cases, almost a quarter of the county’s total to date, including 15 among staff.
As of yesterday, March 27, the DuPage County Health Department was reporting 199 total cases in the county, with 17 new cases reported that day. Six patients have died.
Across Illinois as of yesterday there were 3026 confirmed cases and 34 deaths. 488 new cases were announced yesterday.
Test kits are still in short supply. DCHD “continues to discourage testing for individuals who are mildly or not sick at all.”
Across Illinois and much of the country, the pace of new daily infections has flattened considerably over the past week, after the Governor issued his stay at home order. However, the overall number continues to grow.
Park districts are urging patrons to observe distance rules. Outdoor facilities are particularly important as residents, otherwise stuck at home, seek outlets to maintain health and, frankly, sanity. Elmhurst has gone so far as to ask police to break up large groups and taping off playgrounds.
Aurora’s mayor and police chief have both tested positive for the virus. They are remaining at home and are not dangerously ill.
About two-thirds of the 2589 intensive care beds in Illinois are already in use, along with a third of the state’s 2164 ventilators. This is roughly average utilization and is mostly unaffected as yet by COVID-19.
Local hospitals are ramping up capacity for intensive care and ventilators. Edward Hospital in Naperville, which is already treating 10 COVID-19 patients, has added 60 new beds in isolation and 26 ICU rooms. Elmhurst added 14 new isolation rooms.
Resources for information on COVID-19:
DuPage County Health Department
DuPage Politics 