DuPage County Coronavirus: State Of Disaster Declared

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL — A day after the first case of the new coronavirus was confirmed in DuPage County, county board officials declared a state of disaster. The announcement, made during a press conference Sunday, added that the patient is a woman in her 60s at Chateau Nursing Center, a long-term facility in Willowbrook

DuPage County Health Department Executive Director Karen Ayala said the health department has been working to contain the spread of coronavirus since January, but felt it was only a matter of time before a case was confirmed in the county.

"We are absolutely not surprised, nor are we panicked with this news," Ayala said.

She emphasized the importance of taking personal preventive measures against the spread of coronavirus. These preventive measures include staying home while sick, covering coughs and sneezes and washing hands.

Ron Nunziato, CEO of Extended Care, LLC, a consulting company for Chateau Nursing Center, said the woman has been hospitalized and is in stable condition. He added that they have taken measures to "promptly identify and monitor" residents who have had contact with the patient"to prevent any further spread within our facility and the community at large."

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DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin said, "I will be signing a disaster proclamation for all of DuPage County effective Monday morning."

Cronin added that "[t]his disaster proclamation is critical as it puts our emergency operation plan into play for everyone here in DuPage County. This comprehensive plan provides coordinated resources and specific assets allocated to DuPage County to aid in the ongoing response and recovery of COVID-19 that is affecting much of our nation."

"We are taking every possible action to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on our communities," he said.

Watch the full press conference below:

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