This is a joint news release issued by the Whiteside County Health Department and Majestic Pines Event Center
– The Whiteside County Health Department is working with the Majestic Pines
Event Center in Thomson IL while investigating a potential exposures by an asymptomatic attendee, who
was considered contagious, during a private event. Unfortunately after working with the individuals
involved through the contact tracing process we have been unable to locate and contact all individuals
who may have been at risk. This release is being issued out of an abundance of caution due to the
extended duration of exposure, difficulty identifying close contacts, and limited adherence to Restore
Illinois Phase 4 Guidelines .
Exposures Could Have Occurred: Saturday, September 12th 5:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Individuals who visited at other times, or were not at a private event are not believed to be at risk.
COVID-19 will continue to be a concern for the foreseeable future, so it is the responsibility of every
individual to work with and protect local businesses by following their instructions, Illinois Executive
Orders and Restore Illinois Guidelines .
The Whiteside County Health Department reminds residents that every interaction carries some level of
risk. This risk is increased anytime individuals are attending events with symptoms of COVID-19, not
physically distancing (6ft or more), not masked, present for an extended duration, spending time around
people they do not know or indoors. Exposures like this are a reminder of the importance of taking
protective measures for others even when you feel healthy .
The Whiteside County Health Department advise All individuals who visited this location during this
event limit their interactions with others until September 27th. These individuals should also take
special care to monitor themselves for ANY symptom of COVID-19 and consider getting tested even if
symptoms have resolved or are mild.
What are the Symptoms and When Could They Start?
Symptoms of COVID-19 can develop 2-14 days after exposure and may include ANY of:
- Fever or Chills ● Headache ● Loss of Taste and Smell ● Nausea or Vomiting
- Cough ● Fatigue ● Congestion or Runny Nose ● Diarrhea
- Shortness of Breath ● Sore Throat ● Muscle or Body Aches
Individuals Experiencing Symptoms
Individuals who experience any of these symptoms, that cannot be explained by previously diagnosed
conditions, should immediately self-isolate at home and seek testing. Individuals may also contact their
local Health Department for further instructions. If you are experiencing any emergency warning signs
(such as trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to rouse)
immediately contact your local emergency department or 911, tell them your symptoms and let them
know you may have been exposed to COVID-19 so they can work to protect you and themselves.
How to Self- Isolate
To self-isolate , individuals should remain at home in a separate room, bedroom and use a separate
bathroom if possible. Individuals isolating should avoid contact with other household members and pets,
not share personal items such as towels, cups and utensils, and wear a face covering when around
others if possible. After contacting their local Health Department you should contact your employer and
follow CDC Recommendations for What to do if You are Sick and consider seeking testing.
Testing
At this time, we only recommend testing for confirmed close contacts and those experiencing
symptoms. As a reminder and individual with COVID-19 may test negative early after their infection and
does not release an individual from isolation. To reduce the chances of a false negative, IDPH
recommends testing 5-7 days after your last known exposure to COVID-19. For Testing:
- Contact your primary care physician to learn more about options for testing
- Utilize Illinois Mobile and Community Based Testing Sites: https://dph.illinois.gov/testing
- Find Other Testing Partners by Zip Code: https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/testing-sites
What to do if you Don’t Have Symptoms
Individuals who are not experiencing symptoms may not have been close contacts and may not be
infected and would not require testing. Because we cannot specifically identify those who are most at
risk for contracting the virus, everyone who may have been exposed should take extra care to monitor
themselves for symptoms, physically distance themselves (6ft or more) from others and wear a mask
when they go out. These individuals should also consider temporarily limiting the frequency and
attendance of social gatherings for 14 days after their last possible exposure.
If you have questions please contact the IDPH COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or reach out to us.
Additional information is also available on the Illinois’s COVID-19 and CDC COVID-19 websites.
1300 W. 2nd Street – Rock Falls, Illinois 61071 – Phone: 815-626-2230 – whitesidehealth.org
Facebook: @WhitesideCHC – Twitter: @Whiteside_CHC
