At a press conference Sunday, President of DuPage Health Dept. Sam Tornatore announced that a 'Disaster Proclamation' will be issued effective Monday after a woman tested positive for coronavirus in the suburban county.
“We anticipated it," said Ron Nunziato, CEO of Extended Care LLC. "It wasn’t an 'if,' it was 'when' a resident would become affected."
On Saturday, officials revealed that a woman who was said to live at the long-term care facility Chateau Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in suburban DuPage County, tested positive for coronavirus.
The woman, who is in her 60s, was one of an additional 20 cases in Illinois announced Saturday, bringing the total to 66.
Officials said the woman was in stable condition as of Sunday morning, and believe that due to the "proactive approach," they were able to identify the case early on.
Tornatore said a 'Disaster Proclamation' is critical "as it puts our operation emergency into play for everyone in DuPage County."
Illinois Department of Public health officials said they are on the ground and working to help protect the health and safety of all residents and staff, according to a news release.
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Health department officials are working to contact all individuals who have been in contact with the unidentified woman, said Karen Ayala, director of the DuPage County Health Department.
According to Ayala, the long-term care facility was prepared for the coronavirus case and began taking steps weeks ago to minimize the spread of disease, including not allowing visitors with any symptoms.
On Sunday, she further stressed the importance to "prioritize both open communication and transparency" for the safety and well-being of area residents.
