JEFFERSON COUNTY — The Health Department is saddened to announce the death of a female in her 80s and a female in her 90s due to COVID-19. Both were long term care residents.

Jefferson County Health Department has also been notified of 4 additional positive cases of COVID-19 in Jefferson County residents in the last 24 hours:

Female in her teens in isolation at home
Female in her 60s in isolation at home
Male in his 40s in isolation at home
Male in his 20s in isolation at home

Jefferson County Health Department continues to investigate each case ensuring the isolation of the positive patient. In addition, the Health Department places closecontacts that have had exposure to the positive patient on quarantine for a minimum of 14 days. This would allowsymptoms to develop and pass without posing risk to others. If you are contacted by public health officials,please respond promptly.

To date there have been 84 lab-confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Jefferson County. Seven of these haveresulted in deaths. Eleven of the positive cases have nowbeen released from isolation.

Public Health officials expect more positive cases to be confirmed locally. The number of cases can be reduced by adhering to the stay at home order, washing hands frequently, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, and maintaining space of at least six feet from others.

Refer to trusted sources for information including our Facebook page, Illinois Department of Public Health, and CDC.