A single-day high of eight new novel coronavirus cases were reported by the DeKalb County Health Department on Thursday, including the second case in a patient under 19 years old.
Also on Thursday, Genoa and Shabbona became the third and fourth cities in the county to reach at least six cases reported. The range indicated on the county site for Genoa was 6-10, joining Sycamore (11 to 15) and DeKalb (21 to 25) as the only cities with numbers that high. Kingston, Esmond, Malta, Shabbona, Hinckley and Sandwich still have between one and five reported cases each.
The total count of reported cases rose to 65, though as of last week 31 residents have recovered.
A second person in their 60s was also reported on Thursday, with the first such case reported on Monday,
There are now two reported cases of patients under 19, 15 in their 20s, 13 reported cases each among patients in their 30s and 40, 14 among those in their 50s, two among those in their 60s and six reported cases among those in their 70s.
The Illinois Department of Public Health on Thursday announced 36,934 cases in the state and 1,688 deaths. There have been 173,316 tests performed.
According to the state health site (which differs from the county health department in specificity), there have been 24 confirmed cases and 237 tests performed in the 60115 zip code. The 60178 zip code has had 129 tests performed and 11 confirmed cases.
A Kishwaukee College student also tested positive, along with a second NIU student who does not live in DeKalb County.
The first case in DeKalb County was announced March 21 and the first death April 6 of a man in his 50s.
Other data is unknown about the cases in the county, as public health officials and representatives of Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital have declined to provide any, citing the health privacy laws that prohibit any information be released that could identify the patient.
COVID-19 testing is being conducted at Northwestern Medicine health system hospitals and private lab facilities, including through Physicians Immediate Care and the Center for Family Health in Sycamore, which are prioritizing high-risk patients, first responders and health care workers and those experiencing severe symptoms.
On Wednesday, the Northern Illinois regional health departments announced that there are two types of COVID-19 tests and clarified the difference between them.
The antibody test uses a finger prick to draw blood that detects the presence of antibodies of the SARS-CoV, which causes COVID-19. It cannot say if someone is protected from infection, the length of protection against infection, or if the patient currently has the disease. The test may also detect other viruses that do not cause COVID-19. The tests are promising in determining exposure in the community but are not fully proven.
Then there are molecular tests, which use a sample taken from the nose and throat. It can detect the presence of active infection with SARS-CoV. This test cannot tell if a person has been exposed and is still in the incubation period before symptoms develop. This test is used to confirm COVID-19.
Source: The Daily Chronicle