By Stacey Sheridan

Staff Reporter

Oak Park has a total of 68 cases of COVID-19 as of April 6, with three new reported cases confirmed that day. The village previously reported April 5 that Oak Park had a total of 72 cases but retracted that number after address verification determined some of the cases previously attributed to Oak Park were not in fact residents of the village.

According to the announcement, "Test results reported to the state by West Suburban Medical Center often lack addresses, so are attributed to Oak Park until local public health staff can verify residency."

The three newest cases come just days after the village of Oak Park announced April 2 that a resident who previously tested positive for COVID-19 has died, likely becoming the village's first COVID-19-related fatality.

According to the village's news release, the resident who died was a man in his 60s. The Cook County Medical Examiner will determine the final cause of death.

The news release stated, "[Oak Park Public Health] Director [Mike] Charley acknowledged that although a death was not unanticipated, it remained difficult news for Oak Park Public Health staff as they considered what the individual's friends and family likely were going through."

Also within the April 2 news release, Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb called on the Oak Park community to "keep this man and his family in our thoughts and prayers" and to remain "vigilant in being safe," to have faith and stay united.

The village will not release further information regarding the fatality or any specifics regarding COVID-19 cases due to privacy laws.

Oak Park village news release bulletins state, "Anyone who has had close, direct contact with any individual who tests positive for COVID-19 is notified by the local public health authority as part of standard patient tracking and case follow-up procedures."

The 68 total Oak Park cases include a child as young as one years old and a resident of retirement and assisted living facility Oak Park Oasis – the latter of which received the positive COVID-19 test result March 30, according to an order issued March 31 by Oak Park Public Health Director Mike Charley.

The order mandated the person go into isolation and the symptomatic residents moved to a designated area for self-quarantine purposes within Oak Park Oasis to prevent further contamination.

According to the Cook County Department of Public Health, River Forest has a total of 8 cases as of April 6.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Oak Park and River Forest are likely to increase by the time Wednesday Journal has printed. Please check www.oakpark.com (or www.riverforest.com) for further case updates.

