MARION COUNTY — The Marion County Health Department on Thursday reported its 10th positive COVID-19 case after four cases were added Wednesday.

The health department was notified Thursday morning of three new cases in Marion County residents who tested positive for Coronavirus Disease. All three are reportedly employed at the Warren G. Murray Developmental Center in Centralia.

One individual, a male in his 30s, is doing well and is at home on isolation. The other individual, a male in his 50s, is doing well and is at home on isolation.  The other individual is a female in her 50s and she is doing well and is at home on isolation.

Public health officials have begun an investigation into all those cases, speaking with individuals who they may have come into contact with before this diagnosis. Through this investigation, public health may place other individuals on home quarantine if they are determined to have had significant exposure. Such individuals may not be symptomatic but are quarantined for a period of time which allows symptoms to develop and pass, without posing risk to others. If you are contacted by public health officials, please respond promptly.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Illinois has risen dramatically over the past week. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), there were 15,078 cases of confirmed COVID-19 in the state Wednesday, seven of which are in Marion County.

We can expect more cases to be confirmed locally, as the number of tests being conducted is increasing. The number of cases can be reduced by adhering to public health guidance on social distancing, washing hands frequently, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, and staying home when you are ill.