PEORIA, Ill. — As of the Peoria City and County Board of Health’s Friday afternoon news conference, there still had been no cases of a positive COVID-19 test in Peoria.
That being said, Public Health Administrator Monica Hendrickson said local hospitals were trying to remain proactive.
“UnityPoint Health, OSF Healthcare, and Hopedale Medical Complex will be going onto visitor restriction,” she said.
“Visitors are limited to two adults, age 18 or older, per patient, in most circumstances.”
Visitors of minor age may only visit if they are immediate family, and are deemed to be vital to the patient’s well-being.
Hendrickson said there were three pending cases.
A fourth pending case, she said, was transferred to another county.
Dr. Samer Sader, Chief Medical Officer of UnityPoint Health for the Peoria region, said resources are limited on COVID-19 tests, and hospitals are therefore being careful about whom they test.
“If you come to the hospital, and you’re ill, and we cannot figure out why your lungs are not functioning normally, we will get the testing done. That fits under the criteria,” he said.
“But if you’re home and you have the same symptoms of influenza A or B, we want you to do the same thing whether you have influenza or COVID-19.
“It makes no difference. You should isolate yourself, you should attempt not to affect other people, and most of the time, especially younger people, you’ll do just fine.”
Hendrickson said barring any major developments over the weekend, the next briefing will take place Monday.
