Kankakee County Health Department issued the following announcement on Nov. 17.
The following statement can be attributed to State Senator Patrick J. Joyce, State Representative Lindsay Parkhurst, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and the Kankakee County Health Department:
The health, safety, and well-being of the residents and employees at Shapiro Developmental Center are of the utmost importance.
The 70 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days, which include 16 residents and 54 Shapiro Developmental Center staff, are deeply concerning and news we take very seriously. We are taking every precaution for the individuals receiving care and for the staff working at the Shapiro Developmental Center who have tested positive for COVID-19 - for their families and for their fellow residents and colleagues.
Together, we are urging everyone in Kankakee County to work collaboratively in the public interest to limit further spread of COVID-19. We know that Shapiro Developmental Center is in Illinois' COVID Region 7, which currently has a 7-day rolling average positivity rate of 20.3%. Currently, the COVID-19 positivity rate in all of Kankakee County is 21.9%, exceeding the State target for containing the virus.
To protect the residents and staff of Shapiro Developmental Center - as well as their families and others in our community - we remind everyone, outside of your home and household: please wear a face covering, wash your hands, and practice social distancing measures.
We will continue to urge area residents to follow the recommendations set forth by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the CDC. These actions can save lives and prevent short- and long-term health problems.
Original source can be found here.
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