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For Immediate Release
Date: May 15, 2020
News/Media Email: COVIDmedia@lakecountyil.gov
Media Phone: 847-377-2001
General Inquiries: COVID19@lakecountyil.gov
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Health Department Coronavirus Update
Lake County, Ill. — The Lake County Health Department is reporting 111 additional cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and no new deaths in Lake County since yesterday. This brings the total number of Lake County COVID-19 cases to 6,189 including 196 deaths (as of May 15, 2020, 1:45 p.m.).
The Health Department is investigating 45 long-term care facilities in the county that have two or more positive cases. These 45 facilities have a combined total of 949 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 124 deaths.
On May 14, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that all four regions in the state are on track to advance to Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois Plan on May 29. Reports show the Northeast Region seven-day average of positive coronavirus tests dipped below 20 percent as of Monday.
"This is excellent news for Lake County and the other counties in our region, and is evidence of the success of everyone’s efforts to ‘flatten the curve’ of COVID-19 infections," said Lake County Health Department Executive Director Mark Pfister. "We thank our residents for staying home, taking precautions when working or when going out for essential items, and staying committed to protecting each other. Please continue to be vigilant in following social distancing guidelines, wearing face coverings when out in public, and washing your hands often so we can continue to make progress."
 The Lake County Health Department continues to analyze data to see how Lake County is doing in respect to the guidelines of the Restore Illinois plan. Based on data from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Lake County has the highest testing positivity rate of the Northeast region.
"Infectious diseases know no boundaries," Pfister added. "We are a diverse county, and we are interconnected—from our health systems to our places of employment and where we shop—so we have to think about this regionally. We stand beside our neighboring counties and ask all Lake County residents to continue in their resolve to stop the spread of COVID-19. The success of our efforts depends on everyone doing their part."
News releases will not be issued over the weekend. Data will continue to be updated daily on the Coronavirus Data Hub at www.lakecountyil.gov/COVID19data.
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New Cases
(since last update)
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New Deaths
(since last update)
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Total Cases
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Total Deaths
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111
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0
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6,189
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196
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker issued Executive Order 2020-32 effective Friday, May 1 through May 29, 2020. This new order allows Illinoisans to leave their home for essential activities but otherwise requires them to stay at home or their place of residence to prevent spread of COVID-19. Individuals are required to wear a face covering in public places when they are unable to maintain a six-foot social distance, such as in stores. For more information, please visit https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/stay-at-home-faqs.
The State of Illinois opened a drive-thru Community-Based Testing Site in Waukegan (2161 Northwestern Avenue, Waukegan.) on Sunday, May 3. The site is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. or until 750 test kits are completed for the day. The Illinois National Guard administers the tests, and results are provided by phone in 4-7 days. Testing is free, and available to anyone regardless of immigration status. A phone number and name are required in order to receive testing results. Photo IDs are useful in ensuring a smooth process, but are not required. No one will be turned away. Demand is high, so please expect long wait times.
Please visit Lake County's Coronavirus Page for more information, including:
- How to protect yourself
- What to do if you are sick
- Testing availability
- Interactive data hub
- Sign up for the Health Department’s COVID-19 newsletter
- How to get help
- How to help others
Please visit Lake County Health Department Modification Page for information on Health Department Service Modifications.
For a list of government closures, visit Lake County's Closure Page.
If you have general questions, please email COVID19@lakecountyil.gov. Public health officials will answer the top questions weekly. Please note, the Health Department will not provide personal medical advice through this email address.
Additional resources
Anyone needing assistance finding food, shelter, rent or utility assistance, or other essential services, CALL 211 or TEXT your zip code to 898211 to speak with someone who can help 24/7. To receive general COVID-19 information via text message, text “COVID19” to 211211. For more information, visit www.211lakecounty.org.
Illinois has launched Call4Calm, a free emotional support text line for Illinois residents experiencing stress and mental health issues related to COVID-19. To speak with a mental health professional, text “TALK” or “HABLAR” (for Spanish) to 552020.
For general state and national information, please call the Illinois State Hotline at 1-800-899-3931, or visit the Illinois Department of Public Health website at dph.illinois.gov, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at coronavirus.gov.
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