Where is your COVID plan, McHenry County?

As of today, 66 of 86 COVID-19 deaths in McHenry County (76%) occurred in long-term care facilities. Spread over a three-month period (March 21 - June 16) with the McHenry County Health Department maintaining those records, this is a trend the county administration should have recognized.

Though the number of deaths has fallen recently with a decrease in infections, the most likely place to die of coronavirus in the county is still in such facilities.

The Illinois Department of Public Health licenses and inspects nursing homes, but has clearly failed residents in long-term care. Does this mean the county can wash its hands of the crisis in these facilities?

The McHenry County Health Department must be the last line of defense in protecting those most at risk.

Something should have been done - whether working with the state or unilaterally. Lacking a state plan to protect these vulnerable citizens, the county should have stepped up.

With a second wave of COVID -19 reportedly approaching, the county needs a plan now. But if they have a plan, it's a well-guarded secret.

Reportedly, there has not been a single COVID-19 death in the county's Valley Hi Nursing Home. They have done an amazing job. Have they been consulted on their procedures? If there is no county plan, all we need to do is look at the example Valley Hi has set for protecting its residents and apply them to privately run care facilities in our county.

It is too late for those who have already died. The lives of our mothers, fathers and loved ones depend on the county health department to fill the gap where the state failed miserably.

Mike Buehler

Crystal Lake