COVID-19 UPDATES
WHITESIDE COUNTY
BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com The Ogle County Health Department reported 20 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, Sept. 8 totaling 554. Recoveries of documented cases stand at 473. There were three new cases to report Saturday, five on Sunday, zero on Monday and 12 from Tuesday. The OCHD reported its fifth death in the county on July 10, its first since June 1. Ages and locations of the individuals are not being released to protect their privacy. The Illinois Department of Public Health site said Tuesday that there are 245 cases in the 61068 zip code that includes Rochelle, Creston and White Rock. Stillman Valley’s zip code, 61084, has 25 cases in it according to the IDPH site. Byron’s zip code, 61010, has 74 cases. Davis Junction (61020) has 24 cases. The zip codes that house Oregon (61061) and Mt. Morris (61054) have 51 and 40 cases, respectively. Polo’s zip code, 61064, has 28 cases in it. Leaf River (61047) has 11 cases.
For the second time in two days, the Whiteside County Health Department has issued an alert about a potential COVID-19 exposure involving a bar, this time in Fulton. The Whiteside County Health Department is working with Denny O’s in Fulton after an asymptomatic individual who was later determined positive, visited the main bar during their infectious period, health officials said in a Sunday news release. “After working with the location to review the situation, we have decided to issue a general release. This is due to the extended potential for exposure, typical visit duration and difficulty identifying all close contacts. We are working with Denny O’s to review plans and ensure a safe environment and appreciate their efforts working to physically distance within the establishment,� the release said. Exposures may have occurred Saturday, Sept. 5, between 1 and 5 p.m. Health officials believe there is “minimal risk to the majority
of customers�, the release said. On Saturday, health officials issued a news release stating they were working with the Boulevard Pub and Grill in Sterling, after a symptomatic individual, who later tested positive for COVID19, visited an outdoor event while infectious. The only known exposure at that location occurred at the outdoor event on Saturday, Aug. 29 between 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. “COVID-19 will continue to be a concern for the foreseeable future, so it is the responsibility of every individual to work with and protect local businesses by following their instructions, Illinois Executive Orders and Restore Illinois Guidelines,� the
Sunday release said. Health department officials reminded residents that every interaction carries some level of risk. “This risk is increased anytime individuals are attending events with symptoms of COVID-19, not physically distancing [6 feet or more], not masked, present for an extended duration, spending time around people they do not know or indoors. A workplace, private gathering at someone’s home, or closed event where protective measures are not observed is just as risky; however, COVID19 cases are more easily able to name their contacts so releases are not issued. “Individuals who visit or visited other times, or were not in the main bar, are not at risk due to this exposure,� the release said. “Individuals most at risk are those who did not follow Illinois Executive Orders and Restore Illinois Guidelines or were within 6 feet of a positive case for 15 minutes or more and are considered close contacts.�
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OGLE COUNTY NEWS Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, September 11, 2020
Twenty more Potential exposures in Fulton, Sterling cases in Ogle
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