Health leaders in Rock Island say they're bracing for an uptick in COVID-19 deaths.
On Friday, the Rock Island Health Department announced 291 new cases, bringing the county total to 6,396 cases. Four more coronavirus deaths were also announced, bring the county’s total to 115.
The new deaths were a man in his 80′s who was hospitalized, a woman in her 90′s who was living in a long-term care facility, a woman in her 80′s who was living in a long-term care facility and a woman in her 80′s who was hospitalized.
“We send our sincere sympathies to the families and friends of these Rock Island County residents,” said Janet Hill, chief operating officer at the Rock Island County Health Department. “Deaths are a lagging indicator of rampant COVID-19 infection in our community,” Hill said. “With the number of cases surging since September, we are bracing for an increasing number of deaths. Not everyone who contracts COVID-19 will die, thankfully, but many who do will suffer through a terrible illness with long-term health effects and long hospital stays.”
The Health Department also announced that there are currently 65 patients in the hospital in the county due to COVID-19, an all-time high. “Our Quad-City hospitals are near capacity,” Hill said. "We must act now. Each one of us has the power to slow down the number of people who are getting sick. We all must wear masks because they work. We all must cancel gatherings at home, at bars and restaurants, and places of worship and reception halls. We all must stay at home as much as possible and only leave to gather essential items or go to work. We all must isolate when we are sick. And if you are told that you must quarantine by your medical provider or your local health department, you must stay home for the entire time. The personal and economic health of our community depends on every single person doing his or her best to stop this wave of infection.”