Demonstrator Tests Positive For Covid-19; Safety Encouraged During Holiday Weekend

Press release from the McHenry County Health Department:

July 1, 2020

The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) has received a report and has confirmed a case of COVID-19 that was asymptomatic and in attendance at a protest on June 27 between 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. that began at Knox Park in McHenry and ended at the McHenry Police Department.

MCDH is encouraging anyone who attended the event to get tested.

The nearest community-based testing sites, located in Rockford, Rolling Meadows and Waukegan, offer free testing and are open to all, symptoms or no symptoms. Private testing locations in McHenry County have requirements that an individual must meet to receive testing.

A map with testing locations can be found here.

McHenry County’s confirmed cases have declined since April when social distancing and universal masking while in public places became the common practice. MCDH would like to remind everyone that the virus continues to circulate. The more people an individual interacts with and the longer an interaction lasts, the potential risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and spreading the virus increases.

With larger gatherings permissible and businesses re-opening in Phase 4, everyone has a continued responsibility to maintain the gains made during Phase 3 to ensure McHenry County remains open.

"We all need to continue to take precautions whenever we attend a gathering or come into contact with anyone who resides in another home,” said McHenry Police Department Chief John Birk. “We are just a few days away from Independence Day and we know it is likely for people to gather in celebration. However, we know what it's like to be in the earlier phases of Restore Illinois. We know the best way to slow the spread of COVID, and it's up to us to prevent ourselves from taking steps backward."

If you plan to attend a gathering:

Wear a cloth face covering

Keep a 6' space between yourself and others

Frequently wash your hands or use hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol

Stay home if you are sick

Plan ahead and get tested at a community-based site before the event

Sanitize any frequently touched, hard-surfaced personal items, like a cellphone, brought to the gathering.

Please visit mcdh.info for up to date COVID-19 information.

This press release was produced by the McHenry County Health Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.