The health department is asking attendees of a combined protest and basketball tournament held in Waukegan to self-isolate after someone who attended tested positive for COVID-19.
A basketball tournament called Above the Rim Classic was held on June 14 in Waukegan at Corrine Rose Park, which is formerly Belvidere Park. The park is located at Lewis Avenue and Belvidere Road.
“Protesting on the court through the sport. Pack the park! Wear a mask!” a flyer for the tournament said. However, social media videos from the event show the majority of attendees were packed closely together and not wearing masks.
The Lake County Health Department announced Tuesday evening that a person who attended the event tested positive for COVID-19. That person is not being identified.
Health officials are urging those who attended the event to self-quarantine until June 28, which is 14 days after the event had been held.
“This event was not a park district event, rather a protest with basketball which occurred on park district property,” the Waukegan Park District said.
“We regret people became ill attending this event and want to reinforce the Waukegan Park District urges social distancing and the wearing of masks when at our parks.” the park district added.
The Lake County Health Department said that attendees should monitor their health and call their health care provider if symptoms develop in addition to getting tested for the virus.
“Limit your contact with others in your home, avoid contact with vulnerable people, and wear a face covering if you leave your home to seek testing or medical care,” the health department said in a statement.
Symptoms of coronavirus may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.
Those symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
Lake County Health Department Executive Director Mark Pfister wants the public to know that the pandemic is “far from over.”
“The virus is still spreading in our communities, and if we let our guard down we could see cases and deaths start to rise again in Lake County,” he said.
The health department also recommends anyone who has attended a recent protest or demonstration to get tested five to seven days after the event or right away if symptoms develop.
Getting tested too soon after being exposed may not detect the virus, resulting in a false negative test, officials said.