Willowbrook nursing home outbreak leaves 46 sick with COVID-19

WILLOWBROOK, Ill. (March 19, 2020) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Illinois has 128 newly confirmed cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus, including 24 new infections at a Willowbrook nursing home that already reported nearly two dozen cases.

DuPage County Health Department officials said that as of Wednesday, all residents and staff at the Chateau Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Willowbrook had been tested. A total of 46 people, including 33 residents and 13 staff members, tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

Residents who are sick, but not seriously enough to be hospitalized, are being isolated within the building. Infected staff members and their families are self-isolating at home.

The mayor of Willowbrook has asked anyone who may have visited the Chateau Nursing Home over the past 30 days to self-isolate at home.

As they continue to wait on even more test results to come back, representatives for the nursing say they will not comment on any of the individual cases in order to respect the privacy of those who are ill.

Health officials say they are working closely with partners from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the facility’s staff to ensure the health and welfare needs of the patients.

Nationwide, most nursing homes have now been locked down to visitors, while staff are tested for fevers as they arrive for their shifts.

The newly reported cases brings the total number of COVID-19 cases to 288 in 17 counties, with one reported death, according to state officials. The age of those affected ranges from 9 to 99.

During his daily news briefing Wednesday, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced a new website – coronavirus.illinois.gov – that contains information regarding medical updates, unemployment benefits and other news.

The governor added that it is important for Illinois residents to self-quarantine in an attempt to slow the spread of the disease and ultimately stop it. He stressed that people can be infected without showing any symptoms and because of the dearth of tests, there’s no way to ensure most people don’t have the disease.