Highest daily COVID-19 case total since May 28 reported Friday; 19 at Willow Crest, 2 at Pine Acres

DeKalb County reported its highest daily new coronavirus case count since May 28 Friday, with 23 new cases announced, the majority connected to longterm care facilities including Willow Crest Nursing Pavilion and, for the first time since June 19, Pine Acres Rehab and Living Center.

The highest daily total reported in the county was May 28, when 36 new cases were announced.

Willow Crest reported 19 more cases in staff and residents Friday, and Pine Acres reported two more in staff according to the DeKalb County Health Department.

Willow Crest's COVID-19 outbreak climbed to 36 after 14 more residents contracted the viral respiratory disease and 5 more employees. In total, the longterm care facility at 515 N. Main St. in Sandwich reports 12 staff and 24 residents have contracted the disease, with one death, a woman in her 90s, announced Monday.

The DeKalb County Health Department's Pine Acres COVID-19 count now matches that reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health. In total, 80 in the facility have tested positive the disease, including 55 residents and 25 staff.

No new deaths were announced Friday, no cases in the other two longterm care facilities linked to COVID-19. There are three cases, all among staff, at DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center and two cases among staff at Bethany Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

It's unknown whether any cases in long-term care facilities across DeKalb County have fully recovered, since health officials do not release recovery data specific to case, only a gross number for the county.

This story has been edited to convey the highest daily case count was reported May 28.