2 Deaths, 11 Cases Of Coronavirus At The Cottages: IDPH

NEW LENOX, IL — The Cottages of New Lenox has 11 total positive cases of the coronavirus and two related deaths, Executive Director Alda Tole confirmed Patch Monday.

Last week, the facility reported two related deaths and 10 cases, so there has been an increase of one case over the past week.

Two of the 11 cases reported at the facility were residents, and both residents have died.

"We are truly saddened by the loss of these residents and the families impacted," Tole told Patch previously. "Residents become like family to us and this loss impacts all of our hard-working healthcare heroes who cared for them during their time at The Cottages."

Nine of the 11 cases reported at the facility have been staff members, Tole said.

IDPH is now sharing the case numbers of residents and staff of long-term care facilities. The data is reported starting from the beginning of the coronavirus response on Jan. 24. Numbers are current as of May 8.

The cases included in the data include lab confirmed cases and cases meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outbreak case definition. Facilities report the data to local health departments, who then report to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

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Infection control protocols have been in place for months at The Cottages and this includes limiting visitors to essential visitors only; monitoring the temperature and oxygen levels of all residents; monitoring the temperature of employees at the start and end of each shift; and increasing cleaning and sanitizing.

The Cottages of New Lenox, 1023 S. Cedar Road, is one of several Charter Senior Living, LLC facilities. Charter Senior Living operates facilities in Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Georgia, Maryland and Ohio. Its other Illinois facilities are Charter Senior Living of Glen Ellyn, Charter Senior Living of Orland Park, Charter Senior Living of Poplar Creek, The Cottages of Fox Lake and Charter Senior Living of Vernon Hills.

In Will County, IDPH is reporting there are 645 cases of coronavirus in long-term care facilities and 111 related deaths. Meadowbrook Manor of Bolingbrook now has the highest number of cases in the county, as well as the highest number of coronavirus related deaths in Will County. The facility has 173 cases, and 26 related deaths, according to IDPH.

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