McHenry Times

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has created some confusion regarding the number of COVID-19 cases that are being recorded on its website, which has caused concern from the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH). 

MCDH said in a news release that it is concerned that the number of cases the IDPH is listing on its website could cause concern among families of residents at IDPH long-term care facilities, according to Patch. 

IDPH requires long-term care facilities to report any type of illness similar to the coronavirus to local health departments immediately. IDPH also requires a facility to report on the number of staff and residents who test positive in the event of a coronavirus outbreak in the facility and report the number of those with an illness that meets the definition of the coronavirus. 

The local health department then confirms the numbers and reports them to the IDPH, according to Patch. 

"It is MCDH's understanding that some facilities are reporting to their residents and families just the positive tested residents or just the positive tested residents and staff, therefore these numbers will be lower than what IDPH is reporting," MCDH officials said in the press release. 

But IDPH's website said long-term care facilities are only reporting lab-confirmed coronavirus cases, according to Patch.

IDPH's six long-term care facilities are Aden Terrace of McHenry, Cross Roads Care Center;,Fair Oaks Health Care Center, Revere Court of Crystal Lake, The Fountains at Crystal Lake and the Springs at Crystal Lake.