On April 22, the CDC and the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories announced the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in two pet cats. Click the "View Forms" button to view and download forms! As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets/animals in your home. The State of Illinois oversees 11 community-based testing sites. If you have recently returned from a country, state or region with ongoing spread of COVID-19, monitor your health and follow the instructions of public health officials, Currently, FCPHD recommends avoiding unnecessary travel. Talk to your veterinarian if your pet gets sick or if you have any concerns about your pet’s health. We learn more about COVID-19 every day, and as more information becomes available, CDC will continue to update and share information about risk for severe illness. People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness. Physicians, not FCPHD, will collect samples for testing. Visit CDC's If You Have Animals webpage for more information. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop symptoms, follow the CDC’s steps below to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community. Individuals and communities should familiarize themselves with recommendations to protect themselves and their communities from getting and spreading respiratory illnesses like COVID-19. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. Depending on your travel history, you may be asked to stay home for 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread. Only a few of the animals reported to be positive showed signs of illness. However, we know that many children with MIS-C had the virus that causes COVID-19, or had been around someone with COVID-19. You may also visit the CDC's Coronavirus Self-Checker at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/index.html. Contact your healthcare provider should you suspect you have been exposed to COVID-19. Diagnosis occurs through laboratory testing of respiratory specimens and serum (blood). Visit the CDC website for more information on current travel recommendations. The first case of an animal testing positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 in the United States was a tiger with a respiratory illness at a zoo in New York City. Looking for forms pertaining to food permits, septic, or water wells? Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. Use a separate bathroom, if available. CDC is aware of a small number of pets, including dogs and cats, reported to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after close contact with people with COVID-19. Other public and private sites are not run by the State of Illinois and may have differing testing requirements. Click here to learn about Ford County's current COVID-19 cases. These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. Courthouse. Ford County Public Health Department (FCPHD) is the county health department for Ford County and provides comprehensive health services and programs to the community through a workforce of 10 public health professionals – all dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Ford County residents and the communities in which they live, learn, work, worship, and play. Samples from this tiger were taken and tested after several lions and tigers at the zoo showed signs of respiratory illness. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Flu vaccine will be offered by appointment until a Flu Clinic schedule is released. We do not yet know what causes MIS-C. Speak with your doctor about ways you can manage COVID-19 symptoms. Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. For more information on how COVID-19 spreads, please visit: CDC's How Coronavirus Spreads. For more information about people at increased risk and should take extra precautions, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/index.html. Walk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet (2 meters) from other people and animals. Healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19. Stay home except to get medical care. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus meaning this is a new strain that has been identified in humans. High-quality services, including personal health services, needed for the... © 2017 FORD COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. Stay home if you are sick, unless seeking medical care. People in places where ongoing community spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been reported. According to CDC, "We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms. Wear a face covering. Ford County Health Department. 200 W. State Paxton, IL 60957 Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Stay home if you are sick, unless seeking medical care. Watch your distance. Some people are more likely than others to become severely ill, which means that they may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or they may even die. To learn more about the services and programs we offer, please click on the service descriptions below, or contact our office by calling (217) 379-9281, or emailing info@fordcountyphd.org. We are still learning about how the virus spreads and the severity of illness it causes. Sometimes the infected person was breathing heavily, for example while singing or exercising. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in your home everyday. Free Tax Preparation Assistance Available in Illinois. Wear a cloth face covering in public settings. CDC and FCPHD recommend all persons postpone any travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide. Public health officials believe these large cats became sick after being exposed to a zoo employee who was actively shedding virus. People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Mission To improve and advance the quality of life for Ford County citizens with comprehensive, cost effective and quality public health services. For more information about people at increased risk and should take extra precautions, visit: How can people reduce the risk of getting sick and prevent the spread of COVID-19? Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. How easily a virus spreads from person to person can vary. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------, CDC's Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19, © 2017 FORD COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. Ford County Public Health Department (FCPHD) is the county health department for Ford County and provides comprehensive health services and programs to the community through a workforce of 10 public health professionals – all dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Ford County residents and the communities in which they live, learn, work, worship, and play. Call ahead before visiting your doctor and tell them that you may have COVID-19. Until we learn more about how this virus affects animals, treat pets as you would other human family members to protect them from a potential infection. Keep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people. There is evidence that under certain conditions, people with COVID-19 seem to have infected others who were more than 6 feet away. It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus. Try alternatives to shaking hands, like an elbow bump or wave. MIS-C can be serious, even deadly, but most children who were diagnosed with this condition have gotten better with medical care. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) COVID-19 Resources; COVID-19 Press Releases; Ford County Cases; Reopening; Ford County Safe; Jobs; Contact Us This investigation is ongoing. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. The virus that causes COVID-19 appears to spread more efficiently than influenza but not as efficiently as measles, which is among the most contagious viruses known to affect people. The mission of the Ford County Public Health Department is to fulfill society's interest in assuring conditions in which people can reach their maximum health potential. The virus was first identified during an investigation in an outbreak in Wuhan, China back in December 2019. In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.". Avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather. Vulnerable populations such as older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions — like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes.