COVID-19 cases in Will County climb to 26

The Will County Health Department (WCHD) is reporting that as of the start of this week, 26 Will County residents have tested positive for Coronavirus. Of those 26, 10 are male and 16 are female, with an age range of 20s to 70s, from more than a dozen communities throughout Will County.

The count is updated on the WCHD website and Facebook page at approximately 3 p.m. each day.

Since Friday, testing for the public has been restricted by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to those with symptoms who are hospitalized.

The first step, however, remains for individuals to isolate and self-monitor themselves if they believe they have been exposed and to monitor their own or family member's symptoms.

If the individual has symptoms that include a fever, a cough, and shortness of breath; they should immediately contact their health care provider, who would know their medical background, and can recommend whether hospitalization and/or testing is needed.

If any changes are announced by the IDPH concerning criteria for testing, WCHD will be informing local media outlets.

WCHD also reminds you once again that the doors of the Health Department are now closed during business hours.

Walk-in visitors and clients cannot be accommodated at this time. Those with appointments are being greeted and screened at the door and allowed in. Those who do not have appointments are still asked to call ahead to whichever WCHD service they need (numbers are listed below). If the appointment is deemed necessary, they will be screened and have their temperature taken before services are provided.

The Will County Health Department has also activated a COVID-19 Hotline, which can be reached at 815-740-8977 for general information about Coronavirus. New information and guidance are added daily, so please visit willcountyhealth.org, cdc.gov, and dph.illinois.gov.

You can also visit WCHD on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WilCountyHealthDepartment/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/WillCoHealth.

WCHD FHS Immunizations Clinic: 815-740-8143

WCHD WIC Joliet: 815-727-8524

WCHD Environmental Health Joliet 815-727-8490

WCHD Environmental Health Lab Joliet 815-727-8517

WCHD Environmental Health Bolingbrook 630-679-7030

WCHD Environmental Health Monee 708-534-5721

WCHD Behavioral Health Joliet 815-727-8521

WCHD Vital Records 815-727-8639

CHC (Medical, Behavioral Health, & Dental) 815-727-8670

WCHD Human Resources 815-727-8976