Sangamon Sun

Sangamon County has revised its reporting method for new cases of the coronavirus and launched a new public service campaign to inform residents of ways to remain safe.

Jeff Wilhite, Sangamon County spokesman, told the State Journal-Register that people who live in neighboring counties are being reported in their own counties and not in reports for the county.

"Some people who live in nearby counties but were treated in Springfield hospitals are now being reported only in their home counties," Wilhite told the newspaper.

Wilhite added that the new counting arrangement has the numbers syncing up better with the numbers put out by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Sangamon County Administrator Brian McFadden says that a public service campaign was prompted by a concern from county and medical officials that residents would become complacent about the dangers of COVID-19.

“They were worried about a false sense of security,” McFadden told the paper.

The campaign was launched last week and will be featured on radio, television, newspapers and social media. It will feature Springfield Fire Chief Allen Reyne, Rochester High School football coach Derek Leonard and Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder.

McFadden also said that the public service campaign will keep reminding residents of the importance of the stay-at-home policies and the social distancing precautions.

“They wanted to get a message out to residents of the community that ... stay at home is stay at home, and 6 feet is 6 feet,” McFadden said. He emphasized that people need to stay apart until the crisis is over. McFadden warns that “we’re nowhere out of the woods yet.”