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County health department reports first Macoupin COVID-19 case
The Macoupin County Public Health Department (MCPHD) announced on Thursday morning, April 2, the first positive COVID-19 test for a Macoupin County resident describing the individual as a female in her 50’s.
At this time, this individual has been educated to not leave her home and is complying with the quarantine order. Public health officials will not be releasing additional details about this individual due to protecting the privacy of this patient. Officials have also begun an investigation of the case by speaking with individuals who this person may have had contact with before this diagnosis.
During this investigation, public health officials may place other individuals on home quarantine if they are determined to have had exposure. Such individuals may not be symptomatic but could be quarantined for a period of time, which allows symptoms to develop and pass without posing risk to others. If you are contacted by your public health officials, please respond immediately.
As recently as Tuesday, March 31, MCPHD reported no confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 saying a total of 36 confirmed negative and four pending results have been reported through the Illinois State database although officials believed the coronavirus was in the county. These numbers include all tests completed through the State Laboratory and only the known results of private lab tests.
“Private labs have been asked to send all results to the State database but we do not have any confirmation that this is occurring,” said Christy Blank, Clinical Director. She further explained that there are also some hospitals that have rapid point of care tests and these are not being entered into the state database unless there is a positive case.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to do their part by staying home and taking precautions to prevent the spread of this infection,” stated Blank. “Please people, protect yourself and your loved ones.”
The health department urges anyone experiencing symptoms to first contact their primary care physician. If a person does not have a physician, they can call the Maple Street Clinic at 217-839-1526.
Due to the strict guidelines on testing patients through the Illinois Department of Public Health lab, the health department is only permitted to authorize for testing of inpatients and patients living in a congregate setting such as a long term care facility, jail, homeless shelter, etc. If a physician feels that it is necessary to test a patient, they can collect the nasal pharyngeal swab and send it to a private lab for testing, such as Lab Corp or Quest Diagnostics.
The health department continues to implement procedures regarding COVID-19. Reduction of overall hours of operation and the consolidation of the Morgan Street and Maple Street operations streamlines all medical, dental and behavioral staff to one location for safety and monitoring. At the Maple Street Clinic location, sick visits are being conducted car-side with full personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce infection risk inside the building. Medical and behavioral health staff have begun the temporary transition to mostly telehealth appointments. Dental services continue to be limited in order to minimize exposure and preserve PPE. Direct Macoupin County Transportation Service questions to 217-839-4130.
“We are simply trying to keep the residents of Macoupin County informed and safe,” Blank added when asked about the health department’s efforts to communicate to the public.
False information is being shared on Facebook and other social media by individuals who are misinformed. The public is urged to seek and share reliable information from the Centers for Disease Control, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the World Health Organization.
Please refer to the Macoupin County Public Health Department Facebook page for daily COVID-19 updates, including statistics and live video feeds. The health department has established a hotline at 217-313-5078 for COVID-19 questions. You can also call the Illinois Department of Public Health Hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
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Another major winter storm is forecasted to blanket the BenGil area in heavy rains, flooding and snowfall starting Wednesday night through Thursday.
The mixture of precipitation and rapidly changing weather likely will produce the potential for sudden icing on roads, with high winds leading to blowing snow and reduced visibility.
“The Illinois Department of Transportation’s snow-and-ice teams will be prepared and out in force, but the public needs to be ready for conditions to change quickly and worsen if they are out on the roads,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “As always during periods of extreme weather, the safest option is to postpone any unnecessary trips and stay home. If you must travel, prepare for very slow and potentially hazardous conditions. And please slow down around our plows and other emergency vehicles, giving them plenty of room to do their jobs.”
The National Weather Service is predicting a wintry mix of precipitation to start with thunderstorms and heavy rain in much of the state this evening, converting to freezing rain overnight before turning to snow Thursday morning. In addition to localized flooding, ice and sleet accumulations are likely, creating extremely slippery surfaces and slick conditions.
Due to the rainy conditions ahead of temperatures falling overnight, the effectiveness of pretreating and salting surfaces in advance of significant snowfall will be limited. The public should anticipate icy conditions even when roads appear clear and greatly reduce speeds.
“As the Illinois State Police plans to take on the unpredictable Illinois weather, we would like to remind motorists to do their part in keeping the roads a safe place,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “ISP, alongside IDOT and other agencies, will be working in hazardous weather conditions. Please remember to slow down, stay vigilant and move over for ANY vehicle on the side of the road.”
Statewide, IDOT has available more than 1,800 trucks and equipment to plow, treat roads and respond to weather emergencies. If you encounter a plow or any maintenance vehicle during your travels, please slow down, increase your following distance and remain patient. Do not attempt to pass – conditions in front of the plow will be worse than behind it.
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Police are investigating the death of a Bunker Hill woman who was found dead at the end of her driveway near the roadway on Monday morning, January 31.
Nancy Blycker, 91, had multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. The Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call to the 2900 block of Wood Hill Lane around 7:40 a.m. on Monday.
The initial suspicion was homicide, according to a release by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis who said approximately 20 investigators were working the investigation, but the autopsy contradicted that suspicion.
The Major Case Squad said on Tuesday it is “highly unlikely” Blycker’s death was the “result of homicidal means.”
The Major Case Squad turned the case back over to the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department. The official cause of death is pending further lab analysis.
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The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the BenGil area, southwestern Illinois, and the St. Louis area.
The warning was issued early Tuesday taking effect at midnight tonight until noon on Thursday, February 3 calling for a “wet, heavy” snow. The forecast also calls for ice prompting a warning about possible power outages.
“All indications continue to point to a disruptive, impactful, and dangerous winter storm impacting the region starting late tonight and lasting through Thursday night,” the National Weather Service said in its Area Forecast Discussion.
The BenGil area is expected to receive heavy mixed precipitation including snow accumulations between 6 and 10 inches, sleet accumulations around three-quarters of an inch, and ice accumulations around two-tenths of an inch. Wind gusts will be as high as 35 mph on Thursday.
The storm is expected to start with rain most of the day today before transitioning into a mixture of freezing rain and/or sleet Tuesday night, then all snow Wednesday morning or as late as Wednesday afternoon continuing until about noon on Thursday.
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