POPE COUNTY — Over the last month and a half, nearly every county in Illinois has joined the list of counties to report a confirmed COVID-19 case. Only six counties in the state have not received confirmation of a resident testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

One of those six counties is Pope County. The county’s EMA coordinator Chris Hahn says that doesn’t mean county emergency personnel are taking the situation lightly.

Hahn says it’s very possible that COVID-19 is already in the county, but people shouldn’t be afraid. He says residents should use common sense and be prepared.

The other five counties without a confirmed COVID-19 case include Edwards, Edgar, Brown, Scott, and Putnam counties.