The McHenry County Health Department said that a 70-year-old Crystal Lake man who tested positive for coronavirus has died.
The McHenry County Department of Health and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office confirmed the death Tuesday afternoon. The man’s identity has not yet been released.
“Our hearts go out to this family at their time of loss,” said Public Health Administrator Melissa Adamson. “The health and safety of our community is our number one priority.”
Health officials said they are working with the coroner’s office to determine the man’s cause of death.
There are now 25 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in McHenry County. Director of Public Health Nursing Susan Karras said that she expects the number of coronavirus cases to increase as the virus continues to spread.
Karras suggests residents stay home and practice social distancing of at least six feet. She also suggests to check on people who are older than 60 or that have chronic medical conditions.
State officials announced on Tuesday that coronavirus cases in Illinois have increased to 1,535 and 16 deaths.
Governor J.B. Pritzker laid out measures to increase COVID-19 testing and hospital capacity during his Tuesday press conference.
“We’re using a two-pronged approach to make sure a worst-case scenario does not become our reality,” said Pritzker.
“First, we put in place protective measures to suppress the spread, like our stay at home order, limits on gatherings and social distancing guidelines. Second, we are working to increase our health care capacity statewide so that when we do arrive at our next phase — which should not be our worst-case scenario but will be a point where hospitalizations significantly increase — we have the capacity to meet that need,” Pritzker added.
Pritzker said that 51% of hospital beds and 57% of ICU beds across the state are filled, and almost 30% percent of all available ventilators are being used.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) has deployed 49 tents to area hospitals to set up triage centers outside their facilities to evaluate potential COVID-19 patients. In total, 66 of the state’s over 200 hospitals are operating with this expanded capacity.
Pritzker’s ‘stay at home’ order, which was announced on Friday, remains in place throughout Illinois until April 7.