LA SALLE COUNTY - The LaSalle County Health Department (LCHD) would like to inform the public that with the high amount of new cases being reported each day, they are experiencing a large volume of phone calls into their department. They appreciate your patience and they are handling the influx as quickly as possible.

On average, it takes 24-72 hours from the time a person is tested for COVID-19 before they are entered into our database. Additionally, it may take another 48-72 hours or longer from the time the Health Department receives the individual’s information to when they will be contacted by a contact tracer.

With the lag times being experienced, they are asking the public to follow good public health practices and to do the following if they are notified of a positive test result from their healthcare provider or lab:

• Isolate yourself at home away from others. If possible, stay away from others in the household by staying in a separate room/area and using a separate bathroom (if available).
• Start thinking of anyone you had close contact with 48 hours before your symptoms began or 48 hours from the day you were tested if you were not experiencing symptoms. A close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of a person for longer than 15 minutes.
• Notify your close contacts if possible. Try to obtain the best number for them to be reached at and please relay that to the contact tracers when they call.

Taking these immediate actions will help slow the spread and also help the contact tracing process go more smoothly.

Additionally, if you are notified by someone that you are a close contact:

• Quarantine is recommended for 14 days.
• Monitor yourself for symptoms.
• The best time for an individual to be tested after an exposure to a positive case is 5-7 days from the date of their last exposure. If the individual tests negative, they still need to complete their entire quarantine. A negative test does not get a person out of quarantine.
• If symptoms develop earlier, the individual should be tested as soon as possible.
• There are no restrictions on household/family members of close contacts during their quarantine unless the close contact begins showing symptoms.

The LaSalle County Health Department reminds residents to follow the isolation and quarantine directions given. Individuals who are unwilling to cooperate risk spreading COVID-19 to others.

LCHD urges all residents, for the health and safety of our communities, to continue wearing face-coverings, practice social distancing, wash hands often, and please stay home when you are sick. For questions about COVID-19, call the IDPH hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or e-mail dph.sick@illinois.gov or call the LaSalle County Health Department at (815) 433-03366. For additional information, visit the Health Department’s website at www.lasallecounty.org.