•July 22, 2020•

The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) has confirmed three more cases of the novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) in Moultrie County. The three individuals range in age from teens to 30s. All are recovering at home in isolation. Public health officials are notifying all close contacts.
To date, 1,588 Moultrie County residents have been tested for COVID-19. Of those tests, 36 have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 and 27 are no longer in isolation.
As Illinois progresses through Phase 4 of Recover Illinois, the risk of COVID-19 transmission to others may increase.
It is important to self-monitor for possible COVID-19 symptoms. These symptoms include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
It is also possible to be infected with the virus and have no symptoms. For this reason, the CDC recommends physical distancing and masks to help reduce the risk of transmission.
To minimize risk, the health department is asking everyone use the three basic Ws:
(1)Watch physical distance and keep six feet from others. (2) Wear a mask when in public places. (3)Wash hands routinely.
Illinois is currently experiencing a surge in testing for COVID-19. With this surge in testing, test result turnaround times may be slower. While awaiting a test result, it is important for those who feel ill to self-isolate.
If an individual is ill with symptoms associated with coronavirus and needs medical or emergency care, they should notify their physician or emergency medical service providers of their symptoms prior to arrival.
Information on testing sites can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/testing.