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Peoria Government And Health Officials Prepare Coronavirus Response

Peoria City/County Health Department Administrator Monica Hendrickson announces the opening of a joint Emergency Operations Center on March 4, 2020.
Dana Vollmer
/
Peoria Public Radio
Peoria City/County Health Department Administrator Monica Hendrickson announces the opening of a joint Emergency Operations Center on March 4, 2020.

Peoria County, the city of Peoria and the Peoria City/County Health Department are opening a joint Emergency Operations Center in preparation for the future spread of COVID-19.

Public Health Administrator Monica Hendrickson said there is no suspected case in the Peoria area and the EOC is simply meant to coordinate response efforts and keep information about the coronavirus up-to-date.

“The risk here currently is low. However, this is a fluid situation and as we see nationally — not only in the United States, but now also globally — this can change rather drastically and quickly,” she said.

Hendrickson said based on how the virus spread in China and Washington state, “there is an eventuality that we will see it here — to what extent remains to be said.”

She said testing is being done by physicians in this region and throughout the state when patients experience clinical presentation of the virus, including a fever and cough, as well as epidemiological risk factors like travel history or contact with another person who has travelled.

“The states are actually looking at what’s called sentinel testing in the weeks to come, which is testing individuals regardless of both clinical or epidemiological risk factors, so that we can see where it is in just a normal surveillance of our community,” she said.

Hendrickson said even if there were a diagnosis made locally, more than 80% of individuals can stay at home and take care of themselves by self-quarantining.

“That’s a really important thing to understand. Overall, this actually has demonstrated to be mild for the larger population. Individuals that have autoimmune issues, age, COPD and likewise are at a higher risk — but they’re also at a higher risk for other routine viruses, such as influenza.”

She said the larger concern is not that the coronavirus could kill those who contract it. Officials are more concerned that the virus is highly transmittable.

“This has nothing to do necessarily with mortality rates,” she said. “If a person were to get it, anywhere from one to three people — an average of two — can then also contract the virus, as well. So it can be spread rather quickly.”

She said those concerned the have been exposed to coronavirus should call a medical care provider before showing up at a hospital or clinic to see if their risk factors warrant COVID-19 testing.

Hendrickson said those concerned can also contact an Illinois Department of Public Health hotline 24/7 by calling (800)889-3931.

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Dana Vollmer is a reporter with WGLT. Dana previously covered the state Capitol for NPR Illinois and Peoria for WCBU.