COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 UPDATES Twenty more cases in Ogle

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.

WHITESIDE COUNTY Potential exposures in Fulton, Sterling

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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NACHUSA GRASSLANDS Bison rock the prairie over Labor Day weekend

BY EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@oglecountynews.com’

A walk through the water or a roll in the dirt. Those were just two of the Labor Day weekend choices made by some of the bison at the Nachusa Grasslands on Saturday.

As temperatures climbed near 80 degrees, several members of the Grasslands’ wild conservation herd made their way to the pond area just below the interpretative visitor center off of Lowden Road.

Some took dust baths at the edge of the pond exhibiting wallowing behavior to relieve skin irritations or to seek relief from biting insects. Others, some with calves in tow, walked quietly across the shallow pond to graze on the other side.

Either way, they put on a show for visitors.

“Look there they are,” said Carrie Crago of Gurnee as she pointed to the bison while holding her son Joshua. Her husband, Brian, watched from the family’s vehicle as Cameron, Joshua’s brother, sat on the vehicle’s roof zooming in on the herd with binoculars.

“We’ve been up at the interpretive center, but it’s great to actually see the bison today,” Carrie said.

The pond is just part of 1,500 acres on which the bison can roam.

Nachusa Grasslands, owned by The Nature Conservancy, encompasses 3,800 acres of natural prairie east of Dixon, along Lowden Road, near Franklin Grove.

The herd roams across a fenced-in 1,500 acres and can sometimes be seen from public roads or from the visitor center.

No hiking is permitted inside the fenced bison unit. Other areas of the preserve are open dawn to dusk for hiking. Dogs and other pets are not allowed in the preserve.

Officially named North America’s first national mammal in 2016, bison were reintroduced at the Grasslands in October 2014 to help restore the prairie and encourage habitat for other prairie species.

Today’s herd is comprised of around 150 animals, with calves arriving each spring. On Saturday, bison of all sizes and ages could be seen from the gravel parking lot along Lowden Road.

“Cool,” said one woman as she watched with binoculars while standing in the back of a pickup truck.

The open-air visitor center, located at 2075 Lowden Road, Franklin Grove, offers interpretive panels explaining Nachusa’s prairie, woodland, and wetland ecosystems as

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media TOP: A bison walks through the pond at a wetland area located just below the Nachusa Grasslands’ interpretive visitor center on Saturday. BELOW LEFT: An adult bison takes a dirt bath alongside the pond. BELOW RIGHT: Carrie Crago of Gurnee points out bison

to her son, Joshua, on Saturday. The Nature Conservancy site is located east of Dixon, southeast of Oregon.

well as the ongoing attempts to protect them.

The center also includes bison information, a walking trail, parking area, and bathrooms. It is open from dawn to dusk each day.

The Grasslands are also open from dawn to dusk with hiking allowed in non-fenced areas. Social distancing of six feet apart is required.

Volunteer opportunities are also available at the Grasslands.

Work days are held every Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12

p.m. Advance registration via SignUpGenius (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080945afa82baafb6-nachusa8) is required. For more information, visit www.nachusagrasslands.org, the Nature Conservancy www.nature.org, or Facebook.