CHICAGO, IL — Illinois' seventh confirmed coronavirus patient is a Chicago man in his 60s. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady said he is hospitalized in serious condition.

Coming two days after officials announced that a Chicago Public Schools special education assistant had tested positive for COVID-19, the case is the third in Chicago. All seven Illinois cases of coronavirus have been in Cook County. Arwady said the seventh case is not connected to the Chicago Public Schools employee diagnosed with coronavirus this week and may be the state's first case of community transmission — meaning the case is not connected to travel abroad or travel to other parts of the country with known cases spreading in the community.

"That does not mean that widespread transmission of COVID-19 is happening here," she said. "It means community surveillance is working." Arwady said anyone who has flu-like symptoms but tests negative for the flu is being tested for the new coronavirus. "Community spread is being detected in a growing number of countries and in parts of the U.S." Arwady said. "For weeks, we have been preparing so the City of Chicago is ready," she said, adding she expects to see new cases.

Arwady said a potential case of community transmission of the illness shows how important it is for anyone with flu-like symptoms to stay home and to seek medical attention. Chicago high school quarantined News that the Chicago Public Schools staffer tested positive prompted health officials to advise all students and staff who were at Vaughn Occupational High School from Feb. 25 to March 6 to quarantine themselves at home, WGN reported. A thorough cleaning of the school was underway, and buses that serve Vaughn students have been removed for additional cleaning.

The employee, a woman in her 50s, was one of the passengers aboard a Grand Princess cruise ship. The ship disembarked on Feb. 21, and the woman returned to Chicago a few days later and went back to work. At least 21 passengers from the ship have tested positive for coronavirus. Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said she is in good condition. "Throughout the weekend, Chicago public health (employees) and public schools are working overtime as fast as we can to reach out to all students, faculty and staff and to monitor the health of anyone who have been exposed," Arwady said. Anyone connected to the high school who shows possible symptoms is being tested, but no additional positive tests have been linked to the school. Don't miss updates about precautions in Chicago as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.