Illinois Hospitals and Coronavirus Disease Concerns
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to closely monitor an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (named COVID-19) that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China that has since infected thousands of people in several international locations. Some scientific research has provided estimates that each infected person could spread the virus to as many as 3.5 people without effective containment measures. With new warnings from the CDC alarming Americans to brace for the likelihood that the coronavirus will spread to U.S. communities like Chicago, it is critical hospitals and local health departments are prepared.
As of February 24, 2020, two coronavirus cases have been detected and treated in the state of Illinois. CBS Chicago reported that a husband and wife couple in their 60s were being treated for the virus at St. Alexius Hospital in Hoffman Estates. The woman had recently returned from Wuhan. Her husband, who had not been in China, was also diagnosed with the virus. This was the first known case of human-to-human transmission of coronavirus in the U.S. In Illinois, 68 individuals have been tested for the virus, with the elderly couple being the only two positive cases reported at this time.
Review these frequently asked questions about the coronavirus with help from the Illinois Department of Health.
According to the Illinois Department of Health, human coronaviruses are “common throughout the world and cause mild to moderate illness in people worldwide. However, the emergence of novel (new) coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS, have been associated with more severe respiratory illness.”
Healthcare Systems Should Be Prepared to Recognize the Symptoms of Human Coronaviruses
Common human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. These illnesses usually only last for a short amount of time.
Symptoms of human coronaviruses may include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
Hospital systems should be prepared to help infected patients prevent the spread of human coronaviruses through quarantine, avoiding personal contact, or touching an object or surface with the virus on it, and having staff practice adequate hand washing. The CDC suggests federal and local health departments may require as many as 300 million masks for health care workers and additional ventilators for hospitals to prepare for a major outbreak of coronavirus.
There are currently no vaccines to protect against human coronavirus infection, but symptoms can be relieved through medications, keeping patients hydrated, and advising rest. Prevention, detection, and quick treatment are vital in addressing the spread of coronavirus risks and outcomes. If a patient develops the virus or other illnesses due to being improperly or negligently treated or monitored in a clinical setting, the medical personnel tasked with caring for them can often be held liable.
Levin & Perconti Can Help Your Family
If you believe that a loved one has been sickened by a virus in a hospital or extended care facility because of negligence or improper treatment administered by the medical professionals responsible for their care in Chicago or the greater Illinois area, you must take swift action on their behalf.
Contact the medical malpractice and personal injury attorneys at Levin & Perconti today. There is no risk to you in calling. You can reach us at 312-332-2872 or toll-free at 877-374-1417.
