JOLIET, IL — The Illinois Department of Public Health on Monday announced that a 54-year-old man in Will County has tested positive for the new coronavirus. The man is currently isolated in the hospital, officials said.

Will County Health Department spokesman Steve Brandy told Patch that the man's hometown is not being released. Health officials also are not saying where the man is being hospitalized. Brandy told Patch that he has not been told the man's condition at this point. If that information is passed along, Brandy said, he will issue an updated press release.

Brandy's press release did urge people that "if you believe you have been exposed to coronavirus, isolate yourself and self-monitor for the symptoms. This includes taking your temperature three times daily (morning, afternoon, evening) to check for a fever, along with watching for other symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath." Don't miss updates about precautions in the Chicago area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.



If you do have the symptoms, you are asked to call your medical provider for an exam. The Will County Health Department has established a coronavirus hotline for questions, available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 815-740-8977.

Meanwhile, Illinois' number of coronavirus patients jumped by 27 since Saturday, with a total of 99 patients statewide who have tested positive.