An outbreak of COVID-19 has been reported at the Hillcrest Nursing Home, according to a joint news release from nursing home officials, the Henry County Office of Emergency Management and the Henry County Health Department.

A source told The Kewanee Voice that as many as 20 residents have contracted COVID, although county health officials did not confirm that figure.

Hillcrest reached outbreak status as of last Wednesday, Aug. 6 according to the release. In order to qualify as an outbreak, a facility must have three or more confirmed cases of COVID among residents and or staff within a 72-hour period, according to the Health Department.

Once the outbreak was confirmed, officials immediately initiated their infection mitigation protocols and advised the Health Department and the OEM, which acted as consultants and in supportive roles.

“The nursing home will be limiting visitors during this time; and staff and residents will be using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and heighten other infection control measures in order to stem further infections,” the news release said.

According to nursing home officials, the case symptoms have been relatively mild. “However, any infection outbreak must be dealt with seriously when in an ‘at-risk’ facility with a possibly of an immunocompromised population.”

OEM “is making sure the nursing home has ample supplies of PPE, and the Health Department will continue to advise and monitor the nursing home and its administrative staff during this outbreak,” the news release reads.