JEFFERSON COUNTY, IL — The Health Department has announced the deaths of two additional long-term care residents, a female in her 80s and a male in his 80s, due to COVID-19.

Jefferson County Health Department has been notified of one additional positive case of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, a male in his 40s currently in isolation.

Jefferson County Health Department continues to investigate each case ensuring the isolation of the positive patient. In addition, the Health Department places close contacts that have had exposure to the positive patient on quarantine for a minimum of 14 days. This would allow symptoms to develop and pass without posing risk to others. If you are contacted by public health officials, please respond promptly.

To date there have been 85 lab-confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Jefferson County. Eleven of these have resulted in deaths. Sixteen of the positive cases have now been released from isolation.

Public Health officials expect more positive cases to be confirmed locally. The number of cases can be reduced by adhering to the stay at home order, washing hands frequently, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, and maintaining space of at least six feet from others.

Refer to trusted sources for information including our Facebook page, Illinois Department of Public Health, and CDC.