A third person in Illinois was tested positive for the coronavirus, Cook County and state health officialsconfirmed Saturday. NBC 5’s Lisa Chavarria has the latest.
A third person in Illinois has tested positive for the coronavirus, Cook County and state health officials said in a news release Saturday.
The person, who has not been identified, remains hospitalized in isolation, health officials said. Additional details about the patient, including their condition, weren't immediately available.
However, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle tweeted Saturday night that the case was confirmed in suburban Cook County.
Tests conducted in Illinois came back with positive results for the new coronavirus, COVID-19, however the results have yet to be confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease for Control and Prevention.
Public health officials said they're working to identify and actively monitor individuals who were in contact with the patient in an effort to reduce the risk of additional transmission.
The state of Illinois also plans to ask the CDC to deploy a team for assistance.
In January, two Chicago residents, a husband and wife, were diagnosed with the coronavirus. The wife had recently traveled to Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak, to care for a relative.
Both patients were treated at AMITA Health St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates and have since made a full recovery.
On Saturday, the new coronavirus claimed its first victim inside the U.S. as the White House announced additional travel restrictions on international travel to prevent its spread.
Earlier this month, Illinois became the first state to conduct its own tests for the coronavirus, allowing for quicker results.
At a news conference Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said as a precautionary measure, the state will expand to two additional testing labs in central and southern Illinois in the coming week.
The Illinois Department of Public Health launched a statewide hotline for the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, "to answer any questions from the public or to report a suspected case," Pritzker said. That number is 1 (800) 889-3931.
