3rd individual tests positive for COVID-19 in Jackson County

Just after noon on Saturday, officials from the Jackson County Health Department announced that a third resident in that county has tested positive for COVID-19.

The individual is a male in his late teens. He is doing well and is at home on isolation.

The diagnosis was confirmed through laboratory testing. It is believed the individual was exposed through contact with another individual with the disease.

Public health officials have begun an investigation of this case, speaking with individuals who he may have come into contact with before this diagnosis.

Through this investigation, public health may place other individuals on home quarantine if they are determined to have had significant exposure.

Such individuals may not be symptomatic, but are quarantined for a period of time that allows symptoms to develop and pass, without posing risk to others.

This makes the sixth case of the virus in the southern part of Illinois. Franklin and Williamson Counties have each reported a case and on Friday, an employee at Gilster-Mary Lee in Chester, tested positive, although that individual is actually a resident of Perry County in Missouri.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Illinois has risen dramatically over the past week. As of March 27, there were 3,026 confirmed cases in the state. Officials expect that number to increase as the number of tests conducted in increasing.

Officials urge those contact by public health officials to respond promptly.