SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - On Monday, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced 236 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease in Illinois, including three deaths in Cook County: two men in their 80s and a man in his 90s.

Monroe County is now also reporting a case. Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 1,285 cases in 31 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to 99 years. 

In extreme southern Illinois, Jackson County and Williamson County are still reporting only one case each. 

On Friday, the Southern Seven Health Department says that there have been no positive cases of COVID-19 in the Southern 7 Region comprised of Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, and Union counties, although they anticipate that this will change in the coming weeks.

The department has implemented several plans in order to preserve public health and safety.

Public health and WIC clinics are seeing patients via a new "pull-up" policy. Individuals are asked to call upon arrival instead of entering the building.  If they are asymptomatic, they will be called into the office when the nurse is available. 

Head Start sites are now closed. Meals are being prepared a week at a time and handed out to the Head Start children and any child that wants them.

There have been two COVID-19 hotlines established for the Southern 7 region:

•Massac Memorial Hospital (7am-7pm) 1-618-638-1344

•Southern Illinois Healthcare (24 hour hotline) 1-844-988-7800

On the Net:

More information at Southern 7 website
More information at Southern 7 website