03-30-2020 Unified Leadership COVID-19 Press Release

March 30, 2020

Lee County Unified Executive Leadership Team COVID-19 Update:  March 30, 2020

IDPH Reports 461 New Cases in Illinois for a total of 5,057 in 52 Illinois Counties

The State Death Toll has Risen to 73

There are still no reported cases in Lee County

KSB Hospital continues to ask local contractors, dentists and others who have a supply of N-95 personal protective masks to bring them to the hospital.  KSB is experiencing the same supply chain issues as every other healthcare provider in the country.  

KSB Hospital is also aggressively pursuing point-of-care testing solutions that would allow the hospital to process a large number of tests daily through their lab. Several major pharmaceutical companies will release FDA approved “point of care” diagnostic tests which can provide results in less than ten minutes.   Companies are expected to begin shipping these new testing kits to healthcare facilities in the US by the thousands.  It is hoped that kits will be available locally, staff trained, and testing with the new technology begun by the middle of April.  This new methodology will dramatically increase the timely identification of COVID-19 patients as well as reducing the length of time that people are quarantined or in isolation should they test negative.

Today, Ogle County is reporting their first COVID-19 positive test result.  There are now 36 cases in our nine county IDPH region.  This report comes on a day where the State of Illinois

Reported 461 new cases bringing the total number of lab-confirmed cases in Illinois to 5,057.   The state death toll has climbed to 73.

Local Numbers:

160 COVID-19 tests have been conducted on Lee County residents through KSB Hospital.  60 test results are pending, and the remaining 100 test results are all negative.  KSB conducted 14 additional drive-thru screening tests today. 

City of Dixon:

City of Dixon leaders and Dixon Chamber of Commerce and Main Street hosted a Zoom video conference meeting with more than 30 small business owners today to share information on state and federal grant and assistance options.  The city has created a process to help streamline the Downstate Small Business Grant to make it easier for all involved.  The city has to be the applicant for this grant and can only apply for businesses located within the corporate city limits.    

The city is expecting to have two rounds for this grant, but businesses are able to take action sooner than later.  Dixon businesses interested in this grant should email City Manager Danny Langloss at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

For those who own their own business, unemployment benefits have been enhanced.  More information on this and the Paycheck Protection Program can be found on the dixonprepared.com website.    

State of Illinois Grant Programs:

There are two specific grant programs offered through the State of Illinois:  one is the Hospitality Emergency Grant Program and the second is the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program.  The Hospitality grant is due April 1st.  The Downstate Small Business grant just opened.  More detailed information will be available through a separate press release. A direct link to these State of Illinois resources can be found here:   https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/EmergencySBAIntiatives.aspx

In addition to this, there are several options available through the federal government.  More information on how to apply for the SBA loan program is expected to be released this week.  This program can be used for working capital, to include facility payments, payroll, and other business expenses. 

Feeding the Hungry:

“Feeding The Hungry” will be moving from The Living Well Church to the KSB Emergency Department Parking Lot on Tuesday and Thursday’s from 5:00 - 6:00 PM.  St. Anne Church hosts the program on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 7:00.  Meals are available to anyone in need with no questions asked.

“Essential” Business Questions:

If you are a business and not sure how you are affected by the "Stay at Home" Executive Order: The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) can help you decipher the Executive Order.

Please feel free to direct questions to 1-800-252-2923 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

The Governor’s Office is in the process of collecting and responding to questions regarding the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. To help facilitate that process, they have created an email address, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., where citizens may send questions, comments and recommendations. The Governor’s staff will then compile all inquiries and respond with answers.    

What to do if you think you have COVID-19: (UPDATED INFORMATION)

During the current Corona Virus outbreak, individuals with symptoms SHOULD NOT GO to health care facilities such as hospitals, clinics, and urgent care centers without CALLING FIRST.  Instead, they can seek care by using one of the following options:

  • • Use the “KSB Care Anywhere” virtual care app (https://ksbhospital.zipnosis.com/) for a free 5 question screening in order to help differentiate your symptoms between the virus and other seasonal maladies. While a credit card is required for a more involved assessment, no charges will be applied if a COVID-19 testing referral is made.
  • • KSB is offering a Coronavirus HOTLINE, by which symptoms can be evaluated against federal screening guidelines, and if appropriate, a referral is made to their Drive-Thru Screening site. The screening site is available ONLY through the hotline and between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm on weekdays by calling 815-285-7777.
  • • Residents with a Primary Care Practitioner can also CALL their office for advice. Again, CALL FIRST before going to the office.
Residents can go to the following websites for additional information:
Go to KSB, IDPH, or CDC websites.  Lee County Health Department provides regular updates on its Facebook page.

For general questions about COVID-19, call the IDPH hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or 211.

Authority:
Lee County Health Department
KSB Hospital
City of Dixon
Lee County Emergency Management
Lee County Sheriff