Illinois (ECWd) –
While many in the state still don’t know the number of positive COVID-19 patients who have needed to be hospitalized, the state has provided no numbers for those that have actually recovered. Those are key markers people should know, but the State is not disclosing.
Worse yet, why are we recording positive results for people that tested positive in another state?
A recent letter published by the Clark County Health Department, Martinsville, Illinois has created quite a stir in the area with their claimed first case of Chinese virus “COVID-19”. Reading the letter it is clearly written in a way that raises questions. As suspected when we read it, the information was inaccurate.
Clark County does not have a COVID-19 case!
Even though they were told the case was not a Clark County case by the patient, they refused to post a clarification to their reporting. As it stands, it appears if a person has a residence in Illinois and they test positive in some other state, Illinois is counting those as Illinois cases. That should trouble us all.
The actual case was in Houston, TX and the patient’s Doctors confirmed it was a Texas case, not a Clark County, Illinois Case.
From the lady who resides in Clark County who contracted COVID-19.
” I told the Clark County health department my time frame Monday morning prior to their press release. They refused to post a clarification from me today. I felt the panic is unnecessary as I am a COVID virus patient in Houston, not Clark county Illinois!! I flew out to Houston March 7th after spending a week at home getting ready for the trip. My grandson was diagnosed with strep throat so we did not do much. I was seen in Houston ER the 18th and diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia. Friday the 20th I was seen in ER again with fever, much worse cough with bloody sputum and shortness of breath and I was admitted with bacterial pneumonia and COVID to the COVID unit. By Sunday the 22nd, my fever was gone and my sputum was almost clear. Drs from the Houston board of health cane to evaluate me every day till discharge on Wednesday the25th and then they kept in touch by phone. These Drs all agree i contacted the virus here in Texas, I was treated in Texas and have been given a clean bill of health in Texas. Clark co board of health was given this timeline and the Houston Drs determination before they sent out that vague press release on Monday that caused a panic. My daughter’s family has not caught the virus even though I was here before hospitalization and after! The handwashing etc works!!”
From the daughter of the Patient
“ATTENTION Clark County Residents! You do NOT have a first case of Covid-19 in Clark County! I repeat….you do not! Yes, it was my Mom who the Health Dept was referring to in yesterday’s press release. What they failed to mention is that she contracted the virus in Texas (per the doctors in Texas), was treated in the hospital in Texas and is still in Texas! She has been given a clean bill of health.”
How many other cases in Illinois are being reported as positive ILLINOIS cases when in fact the person may have tested positive in another state? Why is the state recording out of state test results as if they are Illinois Cases?
Such reporting from the County Health Department as well as the State is irresponsible and terribly misleading. At the local level in Clark County, it created elevated concerns based on false information.
How can the state implement a strategic plan when they are collecting data from other states and claiming them as a positive Illinois case? How many seniors from Illinois have traveled to retirement locations and tested positive in those locations yet may be recorded as Illinois cases even though they were not in Illinois during the past several months?
This is yet another example of the misinformation being given to the public that creates even less trust in our government.
It’s high time the Governor and those collecting data start providing answers to critical questions.
- Of the positive cases reported in Illinois, how many were actually positive tests from another State?
- Of those out of state test results, how many are physically in Illinois?
- Of the positive cases ‘actually’ in Illinois, how many have been hospitalized?
- Of those hospitalized, how many have been released and cleared?
- Of the positive cases ‘actually” in Illinois, how many have been considered ‘recovered’?
This information should be at the forefront of the information being collected as it is this type of fact-based information that helps build a strategic plan for dealing with this issue.
We urge other reporting outlets to identify how many other similar type cases of out of State reporting as an Illinois case might be in their area.
We once again call on Governor Pritzker to provide answers. To date, we have not recieved a single response from his media contacts.
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14 Comments
jannie
Posted at 10:07h, 01 AprilActually the Clark Co. Health Dept. should have corrected the information immediately as soon as they got the info from the TX Drs.
Charlotte
Posted at 18:20h, 02 AprilThey had all the pertinent information prior to posting the press release. Not only did I give them the information, they called Texas to verify what I told them. I was shocked when I read the press release. It was very vague. I called the Administrator and asked her to send out a clarification press release. I was told no. But they did offer to post my statement on their website. So, I wrote a statement and sent it to the Clark county health department Administrator. She sent back a email that they could not post my statement and if I had questions I could talk to her or Dr James. I believe they refused to write a clarification because my statement indicated the Board of Health physicians in Texas determined I got the virus in Texas. When I talked to the Administrator to request the clarification, I told her the responsibility of the Clark county Board was to provide accurate education and the truth to the people of clark county, not scare them to death. I pointed out the press release was too vague which left it open to multiple interpretations l
Cathy Macke
Posted at 10:43h, 01 AprilThe state government probably is banking on extra fed dollars for every case and slanting it to our greedy governor’s benefit. Corruption in Illinois at all levels is rampant.
Dave
Posted at 10:56h, 01 AprilSomeone at the Clark County Health Department, should be charge with a crime, they deserve punitive punishment for deceiving the citizens
Dave
Posted at 10:58h, 01 AprilPritzker’s office won’t respond unless you donated to his campaign and voted for him. I have written the governor and specifically asked for a response and just got crickets
Judy Mcginnis
Posted at 11:22h, 01 AprilNot feeling witty at all! When they announce the new numbers daily, they should announce how many where we’ll enough to be sent home to self quarantine. That’s a real important number.
PK
Posted at 11:35h, 01 AprilFrom a Clark County internet page link to the “About Us” mission statement on the health department’s page:
“The Clark County Health Department’s purpose is to promote and protect the health of all Clark County residents.”
Based on their press release and publication of this ECWd story, I’ll posit that a complete failure to adhere to their mission has occurred.
Frank
Posted at 11:49h, 01 AprilMy question is are positive cases being reported 2 times, once by the state being treated in and once by their state of residence?
David Somerset
Posted at 12:09h, 01 AprilJust like out of state residents collecting Medicaid benefits in Illinois (and voting here) and Illinois nursing homes collecting monthly Medicaid checks for their patients who died, remain dead and still vote in Illinois.
The only solution for Illinois is the same one as is working in Detroit. Get a federal district court judge to appoint a special master to administer Illinois. Because, the governor, executive department and legislature will not act responsibly and is congenitally corrupt.
Billi
Posted at 18:56h, 01 AprilWell first off you just said that you was around them before and after so if ur sick with COVID-19, why are you running spreading that for starter when it has killed a lot of people? So you are not a doctor so you really can’t say 100% you know or don’t know who you gave it to or who you haven’t! Also, I can guarantee anyone else leaving comments has kids and you got around them, then their child died I’m sure they wouldn’t be ok with that either. So why you on here acting like a victim and point out everyone else’s flaws just think on that a minute. And that is one small town in Illinois not the whole damn state!
Billi
Posted at 20:23h, 01 AprilWhich don’t get me wrong, I am not saying they didn’t do that. Just putting it to you straight. Which yes, if they did wrong tell them. Also, some places can’t test for serious stuff like that. Like for instance like I was told here out at ez care that they were testing my son for cat scratch fever and even told me it was negative. Then another doctor in the same building told me that they can’t even test for that. This was serious like life and death and it was my toddler son. So ya I was very upset.
Rory Steidl
Posted at 19:47h, 04 AprilMy first thought was the same as Cathy Macke’s: Maybe the county (or state) stands to gain some state (or federal) funds with a “confirmed case” in the county. Perhaps I’m wrong but other than sensitive egos, why would no one at the health department or county board want to correct the information? The only way to clear this up is for the health department or the county board (do they oversee the health department?) to provide an explanation. Why would they not want to explain WHY the reporting was left as-is? Seems to me to be a pretty easy fix on their part. If someone else or another entity is pulling the strings, it would be more than foolish to take the bullet for that other person/entity. Why be dragged through the mud for someone/thing else? OK, Watchdogs, if there is no correction or explanation, start tracking the funding money trail!
Kirk Allen
Posted at 08:24h, 05 AprilThis email is in regards to me asking the Administrator at the Clark county Board of Health for a clarification press release I pointed out on the phone that their job was to educate and provide the truth to Clark county. I was told “no” but then told they would post my statement on their web site. This email is what they sent back
Charlotte Macke
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Cathy Hayden
Date: March 31, 2020 at 12:17:56 PM CDT
To: Charlotte Macke
Subject: RE: clarification statement
Charlotte,
Upon review of the statement you had provided we are unable to post this on our CCHD facebook page as a press release clarification. If there are any questions regarding this please contact me or our Medical Director and Board of Health President, Dr. Amy James at 217-826-2361.
Thank you,
Cathy Hayden, Administrator
Clark County Health Department
From: Charlotte Macke
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2020 11:25 AM
To: Cathy Hayden
Subject: Re: email address
Clark county press release clarification: The Clark County Board of Health sent out a press release yesterday. I have the following information for clarification I traveled to my daughters home in Houston Texas on March 7th after spending the previous week at home, doing laundry and getting ready for my trip. I felt great upon arrival. Two weeks later I was diagnosed with Covid 19 and bacterial pneumonia and hospitalized for treatment. Per the Houston Department of Health timeline, I picked up the virus at a grocery store in Houston, not in Clark County Illinois. The time frame is too long for it to have been Clark County. I am fortunate to have received excellent care in Texas and have recuperated here. I am still in Texas but have been given a clean bill of health by the physicians caring for me at the hospital and by the Department of Health physicians that evaluated me at the hospital every day. I am now immune to the virus and as such, do not carry the virus Just be aware, per the medical staff in Houston, I contracted the virus in Houston, was treated in Houston and was given a clear bill of health in Houston. I’m still in Houston, but plan to return home , healthy in one to two weeks. Thank you for all your prayers.
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 31, 2020, at 10:14 AM, Cathy Hayden wrote:
Cathy Hayden, Administrator
Clark County Health Department
997 North York Street
Martinsville, Il. 62442
217-382-4207 Office
217-382-4810 Fax
PK
Posted at 09:12h, 05 AprilCCHD Facebook page admin and board chief on how to incite local panic during a national pandemic.