Health & Fitness

Coronavirus In NW Cook Co.: Suburb-By-Suburb Case Count

As cases of coronavirus continue to rise, health officials urge area residents to do their part to flatten the curve.

COOK COUNTY, IL — Health officials urge residents to remain vigilant in doing their part to "flatten the curve" as the number of coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise in Cook County and across the state. As of April 5, 11,256 people across the state have tested positive for COVID-19 and 274 have died from the virus.

In suburban Cook County, there have been 3,098 positive cases of coronavirus as of Sunday morning and 82 deaths, health officials said.

The suburban Cook County Health Department updates its online map daily with the current number of coronavirus cases and also shares the number of cases in each town. Here is a look at the case counts as of Sunday morning for towns in northwest Cook County:

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Cases have continued to climb since the first case was reported in the state on Jan. 24. That patient lived in the city of Chicago. March 11 marked the first day cases were reported outside of Chicago and Cook County, according to state health officials. Those patients lived in Kane and McHenry counties.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has been tracking the steady rise of cases:

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Meanwhile, state officials are urging residents to do their part in helping to "flatten the curve." Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions, such as heart, lung disease or diabetes, are most at risk for developing serious health complications or dying from COVID-19.

They are urged to stay home and away from people, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Even those who are young and healthy are at risk of contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to others, including those who are vulnerable to serious illness. In addition, those who are not showing symptoms can still have the virus and pass it on to others, which makes social distancing, the practice of putting at least six feet between you and other people, so important, according to the CDC.

Health officials also urge everyone to:

  • Washing their hands often for at least 20 seconds
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Make sure to cover your coughs and sneezes with your hand and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds immediately after.
  • Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.
  • Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
  • Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
  • Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

The Center for Disease Control provides more updates on how to stay safe and healthy amid the COVID-19 outbreak. So does the Illinois Department of Public Health website.

County Updates

Several counties in the Chicago area have websites, which provide updates on case counts and guidance to area residents. Some of those sites also have a break down ofthe number of COVID-19 cases by town.

Here are links to those websites:

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