SOUTHERN ILLINOIS — Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in deep southern Illinois are still relatively low compared to the rest of the state. That doesn’t mean the area is clear of an outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Shawnna Rhine is the Community Outreach Coordinator with the Southern Seven Health Department. She says with testing numbers increasing, the positive cases will come. But the low numbers right now means people are heeding to health officials’ warnings.

Rhine encourages residents to continue practicing social distancing, even while wearing masks and gloves, and to continue washing your hands when you take gloves off. She says continuing to follow CDC guidelines will minimize the spread of COVID-19 across the area.