As H-F residents work through their second week of a stay-at-home order, Cook County is reporting the latest infection numbers related to the coronavirus outbreak.
On its website tracking COVID-19 cases in suburban Cook County, the Cook County Department of Public Health indicates 21 cases have been reported in Homewood, while 15 cases are reported in Flossmoor.
The population of Homewood is roughly double that of Flossmoor, and CCDPH data shows the rate of infection in the towns is similar.
As reported in the Chicago Sun-Times, three deaths related to COVID-19 infection were reported in suburban Cook County on Wednesday, March 26.
From the Sun-Times story: “Wanda Bailey, 63, of Crete died at 5:21 a.m. at St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, according to the medical examiner’s office. Bailey died of pneumonia due to COVID-19 infection with hypertension, heart disease and COPD as contributing factors.
“Peggy Rakestraw, 72, of Matteson died at 8:32 p.m. at the St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields. She died of pneumonia from the coronavirus with hypertension, heart disease and diabetes as contributing factors.
“Charley Hill, 78, died at 5:44 p.m. at the Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, the medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy found the Homewood resident died of pneumonia due to COVID-19 with hypertension and atrial fibrillation as contributing factors.”
Additional deaths were reported in the Sun-Times on Sunday:
“A Homewood woman, 74-year-old Barbara Hecht, died Saturday at South Suburban Hospital of pneumonia due to COVID-19, the medical examiner’s office said. Diabetes contributed to her death…
“James Gettings, 94, of Flossmoor, died Sunday at South Suburban Hospital, the medical examiner’s office said. He died of pneumonia due to COVID-19, with cardiovascular disease and diabetes contributing.”
The Chronicle is working to independently confirm this information.
Critical data about COVID-19 in suburban Cook County:
- As of March 31, 2020, there are a total of 1,645 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in suburban Cook County and 35 deaths.
- The first reported case of COVID-19 infection in suburban Cook County was March 1.
- Of the 691 suburban Cook County cases in which officials have information about the person’s hospitalization status, 299people, or 43.3%, have been hospitalized at some point during their illness (not necessarily currently hospitalized).
- Among age groups, people in their 50s had the highest rate of confirmed cases.
- The number of confirmed cases among women (883) is moderately higher than cases confirmed in men (746).
- The northern area (486) of suburban Cook County has the highest number of cases, followed by the southern area (477), the western area (309), and finally the southwestern area (139).
- Considering where people in suburban Cook County contracted COVID-19, the majority of cases (1,326) are classified as having an “unknown origin/potentially community acquired,” while about 202 cases were contracted by close contact with someone who had the virus, and about 117 are classified as happening during “travel.”
COVID-19 cases reported in nearby towns (as of March 31, 2020). Go to https://ccdphcd.shinyapps.io/covid19/ and click “Map” to see an interactive map.
- Harvey: 20
- Markham: 16
- Hazel Crest: 24
- Glenwood: 16
- South Holland: 36
- Country Club Hills: 26
- Matteson: 47
- Park Forest: 31
- Chicago Heights: 30
- Olympia Fields: 19
- Tinley Park: 27
- Orland Park: 30
- Alsip: 8
- Blue Island: 16