UPDATE: Fayette County Has its First Positive COVID-19 Case

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Published on March 27 2020 7:32 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Fayette County Friday announced it has its first positive case of COVID-19.

The positive case was announced by Fayette County Health Department Administrator Melissa Storck. Storck wanted to double-check before releasing any additional information on the case, but said that all COVID-19 tests in the county are being conducted at Fayette County Hospital in Vandalia. She did not say when the test was administered, but that they received confirmation on Friday that the test came back positive.

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A Fayette County Hospital spokesman said the person who testified positive had gone to the doctor's office and was referred to the hospital where the test was administered. The hospital was aware the person was coming there to be tested.

Fayette County Board Chairman Jeff Beckman Friday signed a Proclamation of Disaster once the positive case was confirmed.

Beckman and Fayette County EMA Coordinator Kendra Craig told the Fayette County Board at a special meeting on March 18 that a proclamation was in place and would be signed once a positive case was confirmed. The proclamation is effective for seven days. The measure does not need County Board approval, and Beckman has the authority to extend the proclamation another seven days if it is deemed necessary.

A Proclamation of Disaster puts the county ahead in line for Personal Protection Equipment and the speed with which such equipment could be received.\

This is the second positive case in an area county after one was discovered in a man in his 70s in Cumberland County earlier this month. That man was tested at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center at Mattoon and self-quarantined at his home.