The latest numbers from the Henry and Stark County Health Department have Henry County with 55 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday at 8 Am. Stark County still has only 1 confirmed case. Statewide, as of Tuesday morning, there have been 63,840 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 2,662 people in Illinois have died from COVID-19. In today's Daily Briefing, we talked with RaeAnn Tucker about contact tracing and how quickly we can from testing to confirmed and what happens after a confirmed test. We also talked about a terrific local charity helping parents of babies get diapers and new Public Health Heroes at People's National Bank.

If you talk to a loved one who passed away, does that make you crazy? Is it weird to speak to someone you lost as if they are there? Pastor Jim Reynolds from OSF Hospice and OSF Grief Counseling says that research shows that no, it's not weird or crazy. Talking to a lost loved one can be cathartic, a strong coping measure and provide essential comfort. It's different for everyone, some won't be comfortable with the idea of talking to someone who is no longer with us. Just know, that if you find comfort in talking with a late loved one, you aren't alone and if it gives you comfort, it's okay.

WIU Interim President, Dr. Martin Abraham, called WLMD's Mid-Morning in Macomb to discuss the upcoming virtual commencement at Western Illinois University.

The Kewanee Salvation Army has been closed to store activity since mid-March. It will remain closed until the Governor alters his stay at home order or ends the order all together. But that doesn't mean that the mission of the Salvation Army has slowed down at all. Eddie Tolliver from the Kewanee Salvation Army joined WKEI to talk about Giving Tuesday and the essential services that the Salvation Army continues to offer including helping those in need of meeting their payment, electric bills or diapers for babies. Eddie Tolliver is even taking calls to deliver groceries for people in need.

Jennifer Garner, coordinator of the West Central Illinois Area Health Education Center called WLMD's Mid-Morning in Macomb to talk about collaboration between healthcare, law enforcement and local communities n the fight against COVID-19.

Sterling Mayor Skip Lee and City Manager Scott Schumard by Regional Media

Whiteside County Health Department with Cory Law by Regional Media

Dr Richard McCormick, Fox News Radio Contributor, Fmr Navy Commander and E.R Physician talks to WKEI on the chances of re-infection with COVID-19. How likely is someone who recovers from COVID-19 to get infected again? What does it tell us about COVID-19 if the infection does re-infect? What about antibody testing? What is antibody testing and what can we learn from it? These questions and more with Dr. Richard McCormick on People to People on WKEI.

The weekend saw 7 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Henry County. That brings the latest total, as of 8 Am on Monday, to 54 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Henry County. There remains only 1 confirmed case in Stark County. Statewide, there are 61.499 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday afternoon. 2,618 Illinois residents have died of COVID-19 thus far. That said, today's message from the Henry and Stark County Health Department is: Don't get paralyzed by the numbers. Yes, the numbers are notable and they are often confusing and incomplete, don't get caught up in them. Numbers don't change the mitigation efforts necessary to fend off COVID-19.

Jamie Roth from WIRC-CAA called WLMD's Mid Morning in Macomb to talk about the agency's efforts during the COVID-19 crisis.